You and some friends love the orchestra, and get tickets to the symphony. Excited, and knowing that the show is going to be amazing, you find your seats and get ready for the show to start. A few of the friends even know the violinist and the pianist. They eagerly await these musicians to take the stage. The lights go out, and the musicians begin to take their positions, only something is not right. The clarinetist is in the director’s spot; the violinist sits in the pianist seat. The pianist sits in the cello seat. The celloist is sitting in the symbol section. You say to yourself, hey they are out of position …that is not where they belong. You look around and see that a few more people who love the symphony have noticed the same thing. To a person who has come to the show for the first time, everything looks normal. Yet to a person who has spent years following and learning the who’s who in orchestra, they know that something is definitely not right. The director (who actually should be in the clarinet section) lifts his stick and begins the show. The sound that comes from this mixed up orchestra is just that…mixed up. Now.. even, those who are at the symphony for the first time realize something is wrong.
Have you found your place, to effectively do the work that God has called you to do? Or are you sitting in the wrong seat and wondering why you are not growing. Furthermore, are you sitting in someone else’s seat, holding them and yourself up? Like the story I told above, it is possible to appear that you are in the right position, until it actually comes time to show that this is where you belong. Before you were born, God already had plans and an assignment for you to accomplish. He determined and distributed gifts, which He knew, would aid and help you in this journey. Inside of us all, young or old, saved or not-saved, black or Asian, heavy or thin, we have gifts that were specifically given to us that is to be used for good and to sow into this world, into people.
Read with me this passage found in 1 Corinthians 12: 4-11 (NIV)
There are different kinds of gifts, but the same Spirit distributes them. There are different kinds of service, but the same Lord. There are different kinds of working, but in all of them and in everyone it is the same God at work. Now to each one the manifestation of the Spirit is given for the common good. To one there is given through the Spirit a message of Wisdom. To another a message of Knowledge by means of the same spirit. To another Faith by the same Spirit, to another the gift of Healing by that one Spirit, to another Miraculous powers, to another Prophecy, to another distinguishing between spirits, to another speaking in different kinds of tongues and to another the interpretation of tongues. All of these are the work of one and the same Spirit, and He distributes them to each one, just as He determines.
My mother- in -law is in the childcare, not because it’s the only job she could find, but that she actually loves this industry of work with a passion. Watching her around children just amazes me. She is just a natural in the inner workings of childcare and children. They are drawn to her, and she is so effective in relating and reaching them. She serves freely in this ministry at her Church but she also prospers in the natural from it. It’s not easy work, but her passion for this industry overrides the tough days, and every day she gets up looking forward to getting to her kids. Even more, those around her can tell whether they have met her for the first time, or have known her for years, that she is in her right position. They see productivity, fruit, structure and wisdom something you can’t fake or pretend. I will tell you right now, I am not gifted in childcare and I don’t desire to be. I don’t care how much money you can make, I don’t enjoy it, the kids would realize quickly that they have got on my nerves, and I on theirs. So trying to make this my gifting would make everyone unhappy. Yet, we see this quite often don’t we, in society and in church? You have children who show a natural gifting in the creative arts, but the parents want them to be a doctor. So the child goes through many years and a lot of money spent in education, in a profession that may pay well, but they are miserable. We see, many people whom Pastor and should be in business. We see people who are gifted in social work, but are working blue-collar jobs. Everyone can take pictures, but not everyone is a photographer. The proof is in your work, the proof is in your fruit, the proof is in your eyes, do they light up when you talk about what you set your hands to do? Or are you just in a position because it pays well, because it was all you could find for a moment? We can learn to do things, to survive or just get by, and this is understandable. Life throws curve balls, and you have to adjust to hit the ball, but don’t adjust so far out that you can’t get back to your God given gift. The notion that image is more important than passion needs to be eradicated. It allows people to be excused for doing and being things; they were never designed to be or do. The result of being subjected to someone who is not in the right position can be harmful and very damaging.
In the same token, people can prevent people from taking their rightful position. I see it in the church a lot and I say to myself boy we are missing it in some areas. How many musicians are sitting out in the congregation, and should be in the music ministry. How many women that have lived long enough to go through some things and have the ability to speak and disciple our young girls. The church can’t evolve without the many giftings that are in the house, and it definitely won’t grow if you are not using every member to accomplish God’s work. Just like we only use 10% of our brain, I would venture to say, we only use 10% of God’s people to work the ministries of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Now granted, some just don’t want to or have no clue what to do, but many more are ready, are mature but the position is being held up by someone who really is not great at it, but they are handsome and give the biggest offering. The church has set a certain standard and if the people don’t look the part, the get overlooked. They can also have a tendency to hold onto people who God wants to release into the next phase of their ministry, not realizing that there is another person who is ready to transition into it and take it to the next level. I wonder how many people have we lost to the world, because we didn’t allow them to take their place in God’s Kingdom? They were not thin, not pretty, too big, not big enough, not rich enough, too quiet, not quiet enough, not the right style of singing, not the right style of playing; but the bottom line is, they are sold out for Christ and if you give them an assignment, they will not only get it done, but they will get it done with ease and excellence.
Those who follow Christ, and aim to live according to His Word should never be unsure about this one thing. God has given you exactly what you need to accomplish His plan, with the permission to flow in it freely. I love to write and sing, even more so I love to encourage, inspire and build up people. I know that these giftings are to work together to accomplish the larger plan God has for me. I can become skillful in other things, but it’s going to be centered around my natural bent and God given abilities. You won’t find me trying to direct an orchestra, or open a daycare, or become a Math teacher. God always opens a door for my ministry and I go where He sends me. I encourage you all, to truly self inspect, and make sure you are walking in the gifting that God gave you. We need you to be in the right position, not just for your own journey, but also for the journey of others. Stop forcing yourself into the puzzle space, when you know you don’t fit, if the space calls for a circle and you are a triangle, you will never be settled and always agitated in this position because it was not designed for you. Parents, Teachers, Leaders, we need to also be aware of how we direct our children and those we cover in ministry. Your child is good in gymnastics, but you want her to play the flute, don’t do that. Pastors, this person wants to lead worship, teach discipleship class, pastor our teenagers, but they don’t like to be around people. It just does not work and the end result will be a hot mess.
Let’s commit this year to finding our place so that we can keep accomplishing great works for God. Finding your place, and being secure in it, will save you so much heartache and hurt feelings. How empowering is it to know, that God knows the plans He has for you and that He has already determined and equipped you with the gifting to accomplish that plan. Come on, we can do this yawl! Let’s walk in our purpose! Get in your Word, find out who you are in Christ, and let him begin to reveal to you, all that you are. Talk to people around you that know you. If you are gifted in art of “gossiping” go ahead and redirect that and become a reporter, that way you can talk all you want about some type of news and you will be good at it…LOL!
Oh I almost forgot to mention this..if you are in the Nashville area next week, come on out to an amazing event full of people walking in their God given gifts. See flyer below.. :)
Blessings,
Fahren
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