There is an advert on T.V. at the moment where birds refuse to use their wings and fly. It shows blue tits trying to get on buses and robins using skateboards! Birds don’t generally do that! They don’t reject the gifts and abilities that God has given them. Humans on the other hand… Yes… we can and do! There can be many different reasons for our not making full use of the giftings that God has given us. Some of us just don’t recognise that we have gifts or talents. Maybe we have low self esteem or are being too much of a perfectionist. (Just because you didn’t make the Olympic Team doesn’t mean you aren’t gifted at sport.) Sometimes people are too envious of somebody else’s gifts and waste a lot of time trying to be like their idol or even their best friend, rather than the person God intended. The auditions of X-Factor and Pop Idol are full of misguided people aiming to get a career in the pop industry and failing, because they cannot fulfil (what should be) the most basic qualification of this job – to be able to sing. Corinthians 12 instruct us not to be envious of other peoples gifts and abilities, because were all created by the same God for our own unique purpose and are equal in the body of Christ.
We all know the “Parable of the Talents” where the servants are given talents and told to make use of them until the master returns. One of the servants hides his talent until it’s too late and what reason (or excuse) does he give? “I was afraid.” I can identify with that. To make use of a talent (even when it’s something you know you are good at) can mean taking a trip into the unknown, taking the risk that people will laugh at you and putting yourself into situations where you have to rely on God. This is scary, because it’s out of your control, but if it’s God’s will then it’s worth it!!! Take the leap. Stretch out your wings and fly!!!
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