“Bezalel and Oholiab and all the skilled craftsmen to whom the Lord gave wisdom and understanding to know how to do all the work in constructing the sanctuary are to do everything that the Lord has commanded.Then Moses summoned Bezalel, Oholiab, and all the skilled people to whom the Lord had given ability, including everyone whose hearts stirred them to come forward to do the work.” Exodus 36:1-2
Your gift is anything that you are good at. It’s that ability you have to perform certain tasks, roles or actions effortlessly, as it were. It’s your God-given ability to add value, improve situations or make a difference in some great way. It’s your talent. It can be a spiritual gift (charisma) or so-called “natural” gift.
Technically, spiritual gifts are received after rebirth, while natural gifts are received before birth. But all such gifts are from God. The Bible says every good and perfect gift comes from God (James 1:17). Do not think any ability you possess came by chance. You are not an accident. You’re God’s intentional design-with your unique blend of gifts, skills, personality and relevance. Just as your fingerprints differ from everyone else on earth, your purpose on earth is absolutely unique. It’s your signature purpose. Embrace it!
That’s why we must take both sets of gifts seriously. And that’s why we must remain humble. We cannot boast about what we have received purely by God’s grace, whether before our biological birth or when we are born again.
Let’s be clear about this: your gifting, abilities or talents indicate God’s purpose for your life. God knows each one of us by name. This is well illustrated by the story of Bezalel and Oholiab in the Scripture passage above. Likewise, God has installed particular abilities within you so that you can fulfil your purpose and His will. None of our gifts are random! God has personally invested in each one of us. Do you believe that?
The challenge is that some people know their gifts and others don’t. Some know and use their gifts as they should and others don’t. Some know their gifts and abuse them. What will you do?
Pastor Josh