Day 4: Talents

First evening post, not that I really intended it to be that way, but I had quite a few errands to run this morning and then a friend of mine stopped by the house and we spent a few hours (okay, eight) visiting and discussing a project that we're tackling together: a children's book. He wrote it, but had no one to illustrate it. That's where I come in. Being the only "artsy" person he knew, it was pretty obvious who he was going to ask to be his cohort. Hehe.

So, what does this have to do with the Bible, you might ask? Tons! My friend asked me to illustrate it because he knows that I have the artistic ability to do so. I can write out my thoughts like nobody's business, but I'm not as adept at or passionate about writing a story for young children as my friend is. Why? Why can't we both do both things? Why can't everyone draw or write or build cars from the ground up or perform open-heart surgery? The reason is pretty obvious to me: God wants us to be unique. Which leads me to today's verse.

Having then gifts differing according to the grace that is given to us, whether prophecy, let us prophesy according to the proportion of faith;
Or ministry, let us wait on our ministering: or he that teacheth, on teaching;
Or he that exhorteth, on exhortation: he that giveth, let him do it with simplicity; he that ruleth, with diligence; he that sheweth mercy, with cheerfulness.
~Romans 12:6-8 (KJV)

According to this verse, God blesses each person with different gifts/talents/abilities. Some people have a flair for ministry, while others have a penchant for teaching. The list goes on and on. I'm no prophet, so I can't say what God's exact purpose for this is, but I believe that the diversity in our abilities makes them more valued not only by others but (more importantly) by God as well, thus making us more special on an individual level. No one person can do everything, nor can every person do the same things well. If everyone was the same, things would be so dull. No one would need to depend on anyone else because everyone would have the same abilities, therefore no one would interact with each other. Everyone's lives would be uniform and cookie-cutter; if you've seen one person, you've seen them all. God isn't boring, so why would He choose to make his children boring?

While differences may seem annoying to us at times--or make us wish we could do something we can't--they are beautiful. Instead of getting jealous at your concert pianist friend, think of what you excel at that he/she might struggle with... not in a smug way, but just as a reminder that if God wanted you to have the ability to play Bach's Two-Part Invention No. 8 in F major, then you would have that ability. So, be proud of who you are just as you are, because God made you EXACTLY how He wanted you to be.

God, I thank You for ALL of the gifts You have given me, including my talents and abilities. I know that every drawing, every painting, every sculpture that flows from me comes from You. I am glad that You made me who I am! Continue to guide me and shape me into the person I'm supposed to be according to Your plan through Jesus Christ. Amen.


Love and God Bless,
M.C.