Summer is
ending for many…school is beginning and vacations are coming to a close. As well, our fiscal year for the church is
coming to an end too. October begins a
new year for us. As I think about this
past year and what is to come, I can't help but think about many of us who
aren't using our gifts for the glory of God.
So, today I
want us to consider what we have to bring to the table.
When we go
to a job interview or we are joining a group, they will often look at what we
bring to the table. They want to know
what we have to offer to the organization that will help make it work
efficiently.
Employers
and groups want to know what gifts you possess that will make a
difference. We willingly tell them about
how we can do things and just how good we are at certain things. We want to please them, even impress them.
Interestingly
enough, God is asking us to bring something to the table too. But, there is a really big difference. Let's look at a couple of scriptures that I
think will clarify:
1 – 1 Corinthians
1:26-31. In this scripture, Paul
is telling the people of Corinth not to look at their worldly status. God doesn't choose people to work for Him
based on their worldly status or how much they have or don't have. He chooses people based on what He has put
within them.
What He has put
within us is not measured by the world.
In fact, if we use what He has given us for His glory, nothing compares
or is understood by worldly standards.
That's why people can leave their careers and possessions and move
across the world to show the love of Jesus.
It's also
why we can see God work in the lives of people in ways we could have never
imagined.
God uses the
things we consider weak to blow the minds of those who think they are strong by
worldly standards. God does this so we
know that it is Him and not anything we did.
He takes what we have and makes it something beautiful.
2 – 1 Corinthians
11:23-26. This scripture is
important because it reminds us of what God brings to the table…His own
Son. God sent Jesus to die for us. That really can confuse the world…speak of
mind blowing!
We are
called to the table because of what He has done for us. We aren't privileged enough to be at the
table. We aren't worthy to be at the
table. But, because of the body and
blood of Jesus, we can come to the table…and not just come, but we are called
to the table.
What do you
bring to the table? Nothing we have is
good enough at the table. We might feel
as though we don’t belong there and what can our measly gifts do at the table
of the divine?
We are told
in the Word that if we bring our all to the table, God makes something so
beautiful of it when it is used for His glory.
God takes us and makes us something unique and special and blessed and
used for Him. That isn't something that
we get on our own. Remember He takes the
weak and makes strong for Him.
So…what do
you have to bring to the table? Are you
willing to bring your everything? Are
you willing to bring your gifts and talents and resources and time and
everything so that God can be glorified?
What are you willing to bring to the table?
If you say
you have nothing to bring, you are underestimating the power of the One that we
serve and the One that has called you.
