Like
good stewards of the manifold grace of God, serve one another with whatever gifts each of
you has received.
Did anybody give you a gift for your last birthday? Do you
remember what it was? A new sports car? A diamond bracelet? How about your 10th
birthday? Was that the year you got the pony?
Most likely, you didn’t receive a Lamborghini or a blue box
inscribed by Tiffany’s. There was probably no childhood pony. You may not even be
able to put your finger on just what gift or gifts you did receive. But I bet you
know for sure whether somebody remembered your birthday with a gift or whether
nobody did.
What lives in memory about a gift is not the material object itself. As
we like to say, it’s the thought that counts. When we receive a gift, we know
somebody is thinking about us and wishing us well. When we give a gift to another, we are
saying, "I care about you and I want you to know it. You are my friend. I love
you."
So it is also with intangible gifts within the community of
Christ– the gifts of faith, helping, serving, teaching, preaching, praying, leading.
When we give to our faith community by using our talents, skills, and abilities we say to
all members of the community, "I care about you and I want you to know it. You are my
friend. I love you."
When we withhold our gifts, we send another message: "I don’t
have time for you. You’re on your own."
We are created and called to live out our faith by using our gifts to
build up the body of Christ -- to support one another, to encourage one another, to become
the human hands and feet of Christ.
Each of us is gifted in some way to serve the Lord and each other.
Let’s not stockpile our gifts in a closet, waiting for just the right occasion to use
them. As long as we hold onto those gifts, they’re not gifts at all.
A gift does not become a gift until it is given away.
Here I am, Lord. Is it I, Lord? I have heard you calling in the
night. I will go, Lord, if you lead me. I will hold your people in my heart.
