My husband and I have separate tool boxes. The reason is that most of the time, his tools never make it back into the box. His tools usually end up either left outside "somewhere" or on some unnamed shelf in his tool closet. Either way, when I wanted a simple screwdriver or hammer, I never could find it. So I went to WalMart to buy myself my own set of tools and I take them out and use them whenever I want because my tools go back in the bag so I can find them the next time I want them. Case in point, I "loaned" him my tape measure. It is pink so I thought that he would surely give it back to me. Nope, it is still lost. I finally shamed him into buying me another small tape measure.
This guy in the video also has an amazing set of tools. He is playing the piano with tennis balls. Personally, I would not attempt to play a piano at all, more or less, with tennis balls. You see, I don't have the tools. I can't juggle and I do not know how to play a piano. So I will leave this stunt up to him and do something else.
In all churches each member has their own toolbox full of gifts and talents. And we are all expected to use our own toolbox to serve in Christ's church, not someone else's. Even if I could lift my husband's toolbox, I could not use over half of what is in there because I don't know what it is or how to use it. It is the same with gifts and talents. We are all different and if we try to be someone other than God created us to be, we will be using tools that we just don't know how to use. Everyone needs to stick to their own toolbox.
Also in churches, we do not need to "guilt" someone into trying to use tools they are not meant to use. For example, "We really need a nursery worker and if you don't do it, we might have to close down the nursery to the 3 and 4 year olds and make them sit in the service." Or, "We really need a teacher in the 4th and 5th grade. I know you would be great at it and we can't find anyone else to do it." When we do that, we are not waiting for God to provide, we are forcing a new tool into the hands of someone who has a heart for service, an inability to say "no," and does not have any knowledge of how to use that tool effectively.
In Romans 12 Paul tells the Romans that there are many gifts but only one body. He says that if we are a head, we should not desire to be a foot. Or if we are a foot, we should not desire to be a head. See, a place for everyone and everyone in their place as predetermined by God when He formed them in the womb. And I feel it is no accident that the chapter on various gifts is followed by the greatest discourse on love in the Body of Christ that has ever been written.
Think with me just a minute. Is it really a loving thing to place a guilt trip on someone just to fill a position? Are we actually saying that we do not have enough faith that God will raise someone up to fill that position? Is it loving to place a person in the most uncomfortable place they have ever been and stand back saying, "Well, it will be good for him?" What kind of testimony is that to our faith that God will provide our every need according to His riches in glory?
As members of the body, let's allow everyone to be whoever God created him/her to be remembering there is no unemployment in God's church. If we wait on God, He will provide just the right person for that position and all will be well. If we don't, we will be like our juggler here minus the tennis balls and trying to use ping pong balls. Without using our own set of tools, we are worthless to the Body and committing a sin by doing something out of obligation instead of faith. After all, does Romans not say,"That which is without faith is sin?"
Please pray fervently about people to fill positions and allow a "no" to mean "I don't have that tool in my toolbox, so I can't help out the Body in this way." I know there are many times in my life where I have felt obligated to do something and all I made was a mess. Be loving...don't do that to some other member of the family of faith. As family, we are all suppose to think of others before our need to fill a position, aren't we?
No comments:
Post a Comment