Using our Gifts to Be a Blessing

Last Sunday morning, I visited a friend's church. This service was to celebrate the end of the girls' ministry program my daughter has attended with one of her best friends. The girls led the praise team that morning,  performed a skit, and read the message for the children's sermon. It was wonderful to see her and the other girls use their gifts. 

The theme of the service that morning was "Be a Blessing". This was also the theme for the girl's program this past year. The verse that went with it was 2 Corinthians 9:8: "And God is able to bless you abundantly, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work." As the program's counselors shared about the various projects the girls had worked on, I marveled again at how fruitful this church is, even though it is pretty small. 

As I listened to the sermon, a thought occurred to me: What if everyone used their gifts to benefit each other? What would our church, our jobs, and our communities look like? What if, when my sink faucet started leaking, I asked around and found out that one of our deacons was also a handyman? What a blessing it would be if he could spare an hour to come look at it and fix the problem. What about a single mom who needed a night to herself while raising her three children? What if she asked around, and found out that some girls from youth group who love to babysit would come and watch her kids once a week? That would be a blessing. 

You get the idea. I think this is how Jesus intends the body of Christ to work. A few years ago, when I attended a women's Bible study at this church while my daughter's group met, we would pray for the members and programs there. This is how I first got a sense for how many people were actively involved in using their gifts to build up this small body of believers. It was amazing. 

Another example is my workplace. The whole company gathers donations for different causes throughout the year. Last fall, we gathered food and personal items for veterans. At my location, we have what we call a "free table".  People bring in items they no longer need, and are free to take something if they can use it. I have shared jewelry I no longer use, and have been blessed with some extra work shirts and two beautiful scarves. I love the beauty of sharing our gifts and using what we have to bless others! 

A related story in scripture is found in Luke 9:10-17. The disciples ask Jesus to send the crowds away to find food and lodging for the night after he had spent most of the day teaching them. Jesus challenges the disciples to feed them themselves. "But we have only five loaves of bread and two fish,” they answered. He was not asking them to cater a whole banquet; he simply asked them to use what they had on hand. 

Jesus took the five loaves and two fish, looked up toward heaven, and

blessed them. Then, breaking the loaves into pieces, he kept giving the bread and fish to the disciples so they could distribute it to the people. They all ate as much as they wanted, and afterward, the disciples picked up twelve baskets of leftovers. 

Jesus took what they had and used it to bless the whole crowd! In the same way, the pastor encouraged us to look at what we have on hand and offer it up to bless others. Think of all the things (both material goods and your talent or know-how) you could use to be a blessing! What are you waiting for? Let's start today. 

Blessings.