The Gift of God, part 5

It’s not just the fact that our kids’ teachers are good at what they do as much as it is the love for the kids they have. Their love is what ministers to the kids.

Right after Paul says to Timothy to kindle the gift of God that is in him in 2 Timothy 1:6, in the very next verse, he says; 2 Timothy 1:7 “For God has not given us a spirit of timidity, but of power and love and discipline.” Don’t be ashamed of your gift. Don’t be timid. Don’t be afraid of it. Use it for Jesus no matter what it is. And know that God has given you power, love and discipline.

When a person is flowing in their gift, there is a lot of discipline involved. In fact, they are disciplined and don’t even realize it because they are doing something they truly love. Have you ever looked at the ability a craftsman (like Ron McGraw) has, and think to yourself, I could never do something like that?! I have. I have stood amazed at what a gifted person can do. Even though there is discipline involved in honing their gift, it’s not always a great burden for them because of their love of the gift.

Some of you have told me that you could never get up in front of people and preach to them. And then they ask me how I can do that? Actually, I don’t really know. I do know I get butterflies every time I step into the pulpit.
 

When I was a sophomore in high school, I had the lead role in a play. I played a Cowboy named Ambrose Groves. I don’t remember a lot about the play except for the cool Cowboy boots and hat I got to wear. I remember people coming up to my mom and asking, “How did your son do that?” She said, “Well, they asked him if he would try out for the part and he said, ‘yes.’” She was very insightful in that. It has never bothered me to get up in front of people – but it wasn’t something I accomplished as much as it was something God put in me. And because of that, there doesn’t seem to be too much discipline involved in writing a sermon. Yes, it takes study and prayer and time but I enjoy the process.
 

There is one last major point I want to make about all of this. After Paul told Timothy to not neglect the gift that was in him, he said to him, “Pay close attention to yourself and to your teaching (the things you have been taught); persevere in these things; for as you do this you will insure salvation both for yourself and for those who hear you” 1 Timothy 4:16.
 

Just prior to that, Paul urged Timothy, “Take pains with these things; be absorbed in them” - referring to the development of his gift from God, but also pay attention to yourself and the things I have taught you. If you persevere in these things not only will you insure your own salvation, but because of how your growth in the things of God will become evident to everyone, those to whom you minister will be saved also.

What a great encouragement! Isn’t that why we do everything we do? Taking pains to develop our gift isn’t just to make us look good; it’s to sharpen ourselves spiritually so that we can be more effective in the Kingdom – which is meant to ultimately win more people to Christ. 
 

If I pay attention to my ability to preach just to impress you with my ability, then Christ is not glorified through my gift at all. That’s why Paul told Timothy to pay attention to himself. Watch yourself! Don’t let your abilities and gifts go to your head. Don’t become proud of who you are - because you didn’t design you, God did. You didn’t endow yourself with gifts, God did. And He did that so you can have a definitive role in His Kingdom. 
 

What is your gift? How do you use it? What are you doing to kindle it, keeping it burning, active, growing, and flourishing?  END