Do You Know How To Use Your Spiritual Gift?
There is an example I use in Kenya to illustrate the need for believers to use their spiritual gifts. Many farm small plots of land and they use hoes like the one shown to till the soil. I explain that many Christians are like farmers trying to dig their garden with their bare hands while a nice new, shiny hoe sits unused beside them. With their hands, they dig, but accomplish little. While grabbing handfuls of soil the farmer complain. “preparing the garden is such difficult work!” They say. Many finger nails get broken, their backs ache, and they feel they’re getting nowhere fast.
That seems silly!
When I tell people this they laugh and think the person who is digging their farm with their hands seems silly. They think to themselves, “why not simply pick up the new hoe and use it so that the work will go faster?” It is obvious for them that by simply using the tool that they already possess it will make the work much easier.
Then I say,
“If you realize the person with the hoe should use it to make their life easier, why not pick up the gift that God has given you to make your Christian life easier?”
For many the supernatural life is something that “happens” to them. Victims of circumstance, though they claim to be children of the Most High, they live like beggars in the streets of this world. They dig the soil of God’s vineyard with their bare hands as their spiritual fingernails crack and fingers bleed. Wiping the sweat from their brow, their backs ache. They suffer lack because they get so little done while right beside them lays a nice shiny new spiritual gift that God gave them a long time ago.
Here is a truth,
“Stop digging with your hands and your spirit gift that God has given you”
It is the most amazing thing to me to see people who are obviously gifted prophets, or have the word of knowledge, or the gift of miracles, prophesy, discernment, helps, administrations etc. digging with their hands in the soil of this life while their spiritual gifting sits beside them. Some do this because they believe that they have no control over the situation either. It is as if they expect that spiritual tool that God has given them to rise up and force itself into their hands and make them use it.
Here is the truth,
“When God gives you a gift it is for you to use however you see fit whenever you need to use it.”
People often treat their spiritual gift as something that happens to them once in a great while. However, the reality is that they can use their spiritual gifts for whatever they need whenever they need it. It is just that many assume that their gifting are something they have no control over and so they wait until their gift “just happens.” It is true, that sometimes the need is so great that God simply takes over and makes you use your gift in spite yourself but they truth is that you are free to use your spiritual hoe to dig up your garden any time you please.
The gifting of God is to use freely
There is a type of “false” humility born out of fear that sometimes plagues people concerning spiritual gifts too. They say to themselves “who am I” to assume that I have or can sue such a power of God. Or, The say to themselves and others, that their gift is “holy” and from God therefore I can only use it when the Holy Spirit moves upon me. That is simply balderdash. What they are really saying is that they fear to take responsibility for their spiritual gifting and are uncomfortable about how people will view them if they use it too often. Listen, the kingdom of God is more important than your insecurities or self-doubt. Also, living a vibrant and successful Christian life is more productive for you and for everyone else than living in ineffectiveness.
Share your spiritual gifts with others
Moreover, we need to connect with each other and share our gifts. Out gifts are not meant to be kept to ourselves and sit on the self at home. God gives gifts to men each according to His wisdom and the needs of His body. No one person has all they need to be successful in God. That is why there is the body of Christ. It is written,
“But unto every one of us is given grace according to the measure of the gift of Christ. Wherefore he saith, When he ascended up on high, he led captivity captive, and gave gifts unto men.”
Ephesians 4:7,8
Everyone has a spiritual gift
Note the word “every” in that verse above. Everyone has been given “gifts”. I dare say there is no one “gift-less” in the body of Christ.
Unfortunately, we all suffer greatly because we do not pick up our gifts and use them. Some don’t know how to use their gifts. Nevertheless, we must learn to use what God gave us for our own benefit and the Body of Christ’s edification. Moreover, don’t worry if people who don’t use their gifts look askance at us when you do.
Use your spiritual gift
In conclusion, pick up your spiritual hoe and get to work. Take up your spiritual gift and start to use it for yours and other people’s benefit. It makes no sense for us to be struggling in this world when we have been given the spiritual gifts of God. If you are wondering if you have a gift or what to do with it simply ask me. My gifting is to arrange other people’s giftings in their own lives and within the body of Christ. I can tell you, in very short order, if you have a gift and how to use it. It’s a win-win situations for all of us if everyone starts to pick up their giftings and use them as often as possible for the kingdom of God.
