UNGIFTED!

A couple of weeks ago, I was involved in a competition. Cooking!

“Can’t Cook, Won’t Cook” used to be a popular game-show here in the UK several years ago. Two unwitting scapegoats would be utilized to give the rest of the crowd some great entertainment, as those two victims attempted to cook something demonstrated to them by a chef.

Our church decided it was time for some fun. With all the dreariness of winter, the dullness of the clime, and the desperation of darkness, what better activity to engage in. Get two lunkheads to provide laughs for the congregation by duplicating “Can’t Cook, Won’t Cook.” I don’t know how I got into this (well, I do: arm-twisting by a certain person who will go unnamed; watch out, Leonie). All I can say is, that Saturday, the church certainly got some laughs at the expense of David and me. To our credit, folks consumed the stuff we concocted without collapsing on the spot. I can’t vouch for their long-term physical and psychological well-being after ingesting our indigestible indignities. (I did notice that there were a lot less people in church the next day.)

I hate being in involved in stuff I have no clue about. And clueless I was about cooking. My pièce de résistance is a PBJ sandwich and instant coffee. Culinary crafts are not my gift, I can tell you that.

In the body of Christ, the church, we tend to have that same attitude. If I ain’t gifted; I ain’t doin’ it. Evangelism—nope, not me. Acts of mercy—that’s not my cup of tea. Teaching—who, me? Service—my muscles are wasted, my bones weary, my mind weak. Leadership is not my forte. Giving—what do I have to give?

But the Bible teaches that we are all called to be active even in those areas in which we may not be particularly gifted.

Evangelism is everyone’s mandate …

Go therefore
and make disciples of all the nations ….
Matthew 28:19

Giving is required of all …

God loves a cheerful giver.
2 Corinthians 9:7

Faith we are all called upon to possess …

… for we walk by faith, not by sight.
2 Corinthians 5:7

Mercy is our middle name …

Be kind to one another,
tender-hearted,
forgiving each other ….
Ephesians 4:32

Service we are commanded to engage in …

Bear one another's burdens,
and thereby fulfill
the law of Christ.
Galatians 6:2

Leadership, at least some facets thereof, we all should exercise …

We urge you, brothers and sisters,
admonish the unruly,
encourage the fainthearted,
help the weak,
be patient with everyone.
1 Thessalonians 5:14

Teaching is a role we must all undertake, in some fashion, in some setting …

… by this time
you ought to be teachers.
Hebrews 5:12

So there is no excuse, is there? “Not my gift” is really a cop-out. While we may concentrate on those aspects of Christian life that the Holy Spirit enables us to be good at, we must remember the words of Paul …

I can do all things
through Him
who strengthens me.
Philippians 4:13

Of course, the greatest gift of all is love. That is the most essential aspect of our life in Christ.

A new commandment
I give to you,
that you love one another ….
John 13:34

A commandment Christ gave His followers a few days before His crucifixion. Appropriate for us this Holy Week. So let’s get to work. And remember …

Whatever you do,
do your work heartily,
as for the Lord
rather than for men.
Colossians 3:23