the gifts of God

Fresh Manna
by Pastor Tim Burt

I’ve always loved Psalm 112. It is to a man what Proverbs 31 is to a woman. In both cases they are templates of the image we want to let the Holy Spirit transform us into! I look at Psalm 112 like it was a mirror reflecting what God wants me to become. When the Bible says to be conformed to the image of Christ, and a man or woman wants to have a greater revelation of that image, these are two chapters to meditate on for greater insight.

Psalms 112:9 (NLT) says that those who love God, “… share freely and give generously to those in need. Their good deeds will be remembered forever. They will have influence and honor.” This God-reverencing person is described as one who scatters his gifts to the poor. This statement is often thought of and interpreted as one who gives monetary or material gifts to those that are lacking. That is a proper interpretation of that verse but the application does not stop there.

The majority of people experience times when their ability to give monetary or material gifts are limited. But according to Romans 12:6 NIV, we are taught “We have different gifts, according to the grace given us.” The Bible tells us that by the grace of God, He has endowed us with various giftings and talents. These are very precious gifts. An example of just one type of gifting mentioned is the gift of mercy.

I think that most of us have had an occasion where we’ve said or done something stupid. (As I’m writing this I can just hear someone say, Yea, like every day!) At times like that, the conscientious person wants to kick themself and beat themself up. About that time God will often send a mercy-motivated person—a person who does everything in their power to comfort you and share with or remind you of God’s love and forgiveness. They do their best to bring you into a place of comfort through their kind, merciful, and exhorting words. Oh how we love mercy from God and others. So why is it then, that too often when someone other than ourself says something stupid, they may later become the topic of discussion and gossip, mercy doesn’t come as fast for them? Don’t they need it also? We all need it and this is why it is so important to give it! And, this is just one of those gifts that is within everyone including you if you will let God draw it out of you! Not only is it in you, but it is abundantly in you so that you can scatter it freely. And other than time it takes, it’s free to give!

God has deposited gifts and talents within us all and they were never meant to be dormant in our life! Many have never learned their gifts and talents because they’ve never been loyal and dedicated to anything or any cause that would put a demand on them leading to the discovery of their gifts. People imagine a gift from God like a person who has never played the piano, suddenly sitting down and playing beautifully. That would be an anomaly. The majority of all gifted piano players or anything else, has had to learn and practice with commitment to realized they were gifted at something.

All the various talents and abilities that God has deposited within us are gifts that can be scattered abroad continually. Every time you bring your child into a children’s ministry classroom during a church service you are being blessed by people who are scattering their gifts for the blessings of others. They minister to your child so that you yourself can be ministered to without distraction.

If not having money is your excuse, you don’t have an excuse! Each one of us has a deep well of riches to scatter to others. Go read Romans 12 and discover them. Then pray and ask God to draw them out of you so that you can learn to scatter them freely. As you do, you will come to understand that this is the process of how God giftings and talents is discovered. And the continuous practice of sharing your gifts and talents is what helps you develop godly character. It’s how you take you take on the mirror image of Proverbs 31 or Psalm 112. Whether it’s money or resources you have to give, or whether it’s the gifts of God within you, give them! And as you do, the love of God will touch, influence, and bless others, and a great work of godly character will be forming within you!

Romans 12:6-8 “We have different gifts, according to the grace given us. If a man’s gift is prophesying, let him use it in proportion to his faith. If it is serving, let him serve; if it is teaching, let him teach; if it is encouraging, let him encourage; if it is contributing to the needs of others, let him give generously; if it is leadership, let him govern diligently; if it is showing mercy, let him do it cheerfully.”

In His love,
Pastor Tim Burt

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