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by Kevin Pauley
And He personally gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, some pastors and teachers, for the training of the saints in the work of ministry, to build up the body of Christ, until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of God's Son, growing into a mature man with a stature measured by Christ's fullness. Then we will no longer be little children, tossed by the waves and blown around by every wind of teaching, by human cunning with cleverness in the techniques of deceit. But speaking the truth in love, let us grow in every way into Him who is the head--Christ. From Him the whole body, fitted and knit together by every supporting ligament, promotes the growth of the body for building up itself in love by the proper working of each individual part. - Ephesians 4:11-16 HCSB
A stagecoach driver pulled the coach over to the side of the road and allowed his horses to get a drink of water. After a few minutes, he began to urge them back to work but the horses were reluctant to continue on their way. The coachman ended up having to pull out his whip and crack it menacingly above their heads.
“Fools!” he cried out. “Do you think life’s about water and hay? I gave you a chance to drink so that you could work better!”
We humans are often not much brighter than those horses. We sometimes begin to think that life’s about pleasure; that salvation is about us; that gifts and skills were solely given for our personal enjoyment.
The truth of the matter is that all gifts have a place and a purpose. All gifts and skills are to be practiced within the context of the Body. If I have a gift of teaching, it is all right to make a living off that ability, but I also need to put it to God’s use. If Hashem had gifted me with drawing abilities (which He definitely has not as my stick drawings attest), I would be obliged to discover some means to place that skill at His disposal.
Even salvation is not about us. We are saved through faith, not from ourselves; it is God's gift-- not from works, so that no one can boast. For we are His creation--created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared ahead of time so that we should walk in them.[1]
We are not saved BY works, but FOR works. We were saved so that we could glorify Yawheh Adonai. We were gifted so that others would see what a wonderful God we have and be brought to their knees too.[2]
The horses were only brought to right behavior through the crack of a whip. Surely we humans could be a little more reasonable? Surely His sacrificial love could compel us?[3] Is it so hard to share a little of our gift with our Giver?
Kevin Pauley is a pastor and writer. He lives in Illinois with his wife, Lynn, their five children and two dogs. His internet address is Berea.
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