Have you ever looked at someone who was extremely gifted and talented, but did not live their life for God, and wonder why they were so blessed with this talent? I don't mean that you look at them with envy or jealousy, but more like you look at them and ask yourself why God would make someone so talented if He knew they were never going to give Him the glory?
I love to mountain bike. It is the one thing my son and I love to do together. And with time we have become better at what we can do and what we are willing to try. However, I have a young friend who is good...I mean like extremely good. He actually travels and competes, and wins a lot. He has been good on anything that had wheels since he was a little kid. It's just a talent he has. The other day I was speaking to him about how his racing season has been going and as we spoke I found my myself saying to God (like God didn't already know this...), "wow, if this kid was sold out for you he could be making such an impact in the kingdom by giving you all the glory for his talent". As my day went by I came back to that thought again and again. I wasn't really questioning God as to why this kid was so talented, but I was wondering why people get blessed with a talent if they will never give God the glory for it. And later that night I felt that God had answered that question for me. I was alone when I felt like God said "let me tell you something...", and so I just sat and listened. And this is what I felt God said to me. "When people are born I bless them with a gift or a talent. I do not wait until they find more or give their life over to me, I bless them before they have even taken their first breath. It is who I have made them to be. Some discover it, and some never do. I don't take the talent away if they never give me the glory, but it does break my heart. From birth they have a choice, to either honor me with the talent and see how much more I can bless it, or use the talent just as I have given it to them and receive all the glory themselves. I do it out of love! It is my hope that they will see me in their gifts and talents....but not everyone does. But I give anyway." As I thought about this I literally pondered what I had heard from God for days. It just wowed me to think we serve a God who gives so much, even if we never give back. But then it also broke my heart for all of the talent floating around out there in this world that He has never received the glory for. And I don't mean the 5 seconds after a win when someone says "oh yeah, I want to thank God...". Even though that is always great to hear, I love it when I see a life that is being lived for Him, not just some words in a speech. And I strongly believe He loves it too!
All that we are and all that is in us is because God has blessed us with gifts and talents. We have 2 jobs, one is to tap into them and discover them, and the other is to honor Him with them and make sure He gets the glory. In Jeremiah 1:5 God spoke, "Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, before you were born I set you apart; I appointed you as a prophet to the nations". This verse doesn't just go to Jeremiah, it goes to us all. God knew us and set us apart before we were even born. What we do with the things He has put in us to set us apart can either bring Him glory, or just bring us attention. He is a good God, and even if it is hard for us to understand, He does not take away a gift because it was used to serve self or the world. Romans 11:29 says "for God’s gifts and his call are irrevocable", and even though that doesn't fit into our minds sometimes, it is not for us to understand. We will stand before Him and give an account for what we did with what we had (Romans 11:12 and 2 Corinthians 5:10). So think about your gifts...think about how you use them, and who is getting ALL of the glory for them. And then take the time to thank God for trusting you with such gifts and talents even before you showed Him how you would use them. He gave because He loves you...
God, thank You for so many gifted and talented people in this world. It is my prayer today that not only would I discover all that You have put in me and glorify you with it, but also that others would discover just where their talents have come from. How different would this world be if we each glorified You with what we have been given. Holy Spirit help us ALL see God in our gifts and talents and make sure honor is given where it is due. In Jesus name, Amen
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