“Use your gifts”
We’ve all heard that. A zillion times. Even the “Parable of Talents” tells us to do so, right? The Bible encourages us to use our gifts. But the world has come into the Church no doubt. It is not uncommon to find elderly people — especially those in Church leadership — going around, encouraging young believers, saying, “Use your talents! Get involved in the Church!”.
In the opinion of most Church leaders, the gifts the young people have is the starting point of their service to God. And they somehow hope that these young people will learn to love God if they are engaged in church ministry by using their gifts. It may be a clever way to get young people involved and to get things done “for” the Church or Ministry. However, it is so wrong.
Let us see the Scriptures:
Romans 12:2–8 Do not be conformed to this present world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may test and approve what is the will of God — what is good and well-pleasing and perfect. 3 For by the grace given to me I say to every one of you not to think more highly of yourself than you ought to think, but to think with sober discernment, as God has distributed to each of you a measure of faith. 4 For just as in one body we have many members, and not all the members serve the same function, 5 so we who are many are one body in Christ, and individually we are members who belong to one another. 6 And we have different gifts according to the grace given to us. If the gift is prophecy, that individual must use it in proportion to his faith. 7 If it is service, he must serve; if it is teaching, he must teach; 8 if it is exhortation, he must exhort; if it is contributing, he must do so with sincerity; if it is leadership, he must do so with diligence; if it is showing mercy, he must do so with cheerfulness. [NET]
Verses 6 to 8 talk about using our gifts. But observe carefully: the gifts are not the starting point. First comes non-conformity to the world and self-evaluation.
Romans 12:2–3 Do not be conformed to this present world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may test and approve what is the will of God — what is good and well-pleasing and perfect. 3 For by the grace given to me I say to every one of you not to think more highly of yourself than you ought to think, but to think with sober discernment, as God has distributed to each of you a measure of faith. [NET]
Before asking people to use their gifts in proportion to faith, Paul is asking them to sever themselves from the sinful ways of the world by renewing their minds in accordance with God’s truth. Then he urges them to be humble as they evaluate themselves. This is not a one-day thing but a process that may take years — and leaders in Church and ministry must work on this process instead of involving young people directly in various activities by calling to them use their gifts. As I told, it may be a novel idea to involve young people easily but it has its consequences. It is difficult and challenging to teach and mentor young believers and hence these quick-fix shortcuts to keep them “in” and “happy”.
When these crucial steps are missed, the result is disastrous. Young believers fall prey to pride and they end up being worse than before because they haven’t learned to deal with their past baggage of sin. If you’re on a spree, using your gifts to be involved in various activities in the church or ministry without preparing yourself, you are wasting your time and the time of those who would be somehow influenced by your gifts. Instead, prepare yourself.
2 Timothy 2:20–22 Now in a wealthy home there are not only gold and silver vessels, but also ones made of wood and of clay, and some are for honorable use, but others for ignoble use. 21 So if someone cleanses himself of such behavior, he will be a vessel for honorable use, set apart, useful for the Master, prepared for every good work. 22 But keep away from youthful passions, and pursue righteousness, faithfulness, love, and peace, in company with others who call on the Lord from a pure heart. [NET2]
