Giving of our best

Each of us has talents. Regardless of whether someone can do something better than you, there is something that you can do better than them. There are times when I will be listening to a song and think, "Wow, I wish I could sing like her." Or sometimes when I am watching a professional soccer game, I find myself sometimes envious of the girls with the talent to play at that level. I find myself wishing that I had been a better player. 

However, we must keep in mind that God has given each of us specific talents in order to carry out a certain purpose. Obviously God's purpose in my life was not to be a great singer or a professional athlete, despite how cool I think that would be. I may not have the ability to be great in those areas, but that doesn't mean I can't enjoy them. I was able to play soccer in high school and enjoy the competitiveness of the sport. I also have the ability to sing (though sometimes not very well), and I am able to enjoy that as well. 

Yes, all of us have talents, but so often, we don't give of the best of our talents to God. He gives us these gifts, and we squander them and use them for our purposes. For example, there are many great singers in the world who use their voices to sing songs full of obscenities and vulgarity. This is not giving glory to God. They are using their God-given talents to bring fame, money and attention to themselves. 

Some of my favorite verses on this topic are Colossians 3:23-24. I'm sure they are familiar to many of you: "Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the LORD, not for men, since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the LORD as a reward. It is the LORD Christ you are serving." 

What I love about these verses is that they don't specifically say to give the best of only your talents. No, the first part of verse 23 says, whatever you do. Anything. Even if you aren't necessarily good at it, do it with all of your heart and put forth your best effort. To men, it may seem foolish, but God is so pleased when we try our hardest for His glory, even if it involves something we really stink at. 

I remember when I first started playing the violin. The violin is one of those instruments that can be very, very beautiful in the hands of the right person, OR it can be a horrible, screeching, crackly sounding instrument. And unfortunately, when you are first starting out, you don't sound like Itzhak Perlman (look him up if you don't know of him... he's amazing!). Well as soon as people from my church found out that I was learning the violin, they wanted me to incorporate it into some special music. I balked and complained and whined so badly to my mom because I thought that it sounded horrible! And to this day, I still think I sound horrible. But what my mom always reminded me was that I was to be playing for the Lord and not for men. It didn't matter what the congregation thought. God is pleased when we use our abilities to glorify Him. 

The sad thing about America today is that so many people are not doing their best. There are so many bright minds in this country that are too busy playing video games, going out and partying, doing drugs. There is so much talent among young people that is basically getting washed down the drain. They just don't care. 

The problem is that they don't believe in God, so they feel no conviction to do their best. They feel that their lives are their own, so why should they work hard? As Christians, we know differently. We have been bought at a price (1 Corinthians 6:19-20). We are not our own. We were once slaves until Christ bought us with His precious blood. Now we are free of bondage, but we are still the property of Christ. 

If we do our very best and give the praise to God, He will reward us. We may not see that reward in this life, but God is not going to leave us hanging. He doesn't expect us all to be great teachers and speakers, singers and musicians. He just asks that we take whatever He has given us and try our hardest. After all, if you read through the Bible, you will find that the men and women that God used the most were not the strongest or wisest - often they were quite the opposite - yet God used them in mighty ways to further His purpose. 

Remember that God often uses "foolish" people over wise people to do His will (1 Corinthians 1:27). If you allow Him to work in your life, and if you pledge to Him to give of your very best, God will use you in ways you never even imagined. Sometimes He will use you even if you don't want to be used. However, it's always easier and less painful if you are open and receptive to His working in your life. 

Keep this all in mind the next time you are asked to do something that you don't think you can do. Give it your best shot and give it all to God. More often than not, it turns out much better than you expected.  

Goodness

Psalm 118:1 - "Give thanks to the LORD, for He is good; His love endures forever." 

I am a big fan of C.S. Lewis. In my opinion, this man was incredibly smart and godly. I am especially a fan of The Chronicles of Narnia, but then again, who isn't? I love the portrayal of Aslan in these books. One of my favorite lines in The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe comes in eighth chapter entitled "What Happened After Dinner." The Beavers and the Pevensie children are sitting in the Beavers' dam eating supper and discussing Aslan, the Great Lion. 

"Ooh!" said Susan. "I'd thought he was a man. Is he - quite safe? I shall feel rather nervous about meeting a lion."That you will, dearie, and no mistake," said Mrs. Beaver; "if there's anyone who can appear before Aslan without their knees knocking, they're either braver than most or else just silly."Then he isn't safe?" said Lucy. "Safe?" said Mr. Beaver; "don't you hear what Mrs. Beaver tells you? Who said anything about safe? 'Course he isn't safe. But he's good. He's the King, I tell you." 

I love that last line. Of course Aslan isn't safe, but he is good. Our God is not safe, but He is infinitely and wonderfully good. He is always just and always caring and always kind. 

Not too many things in society are good anymore. It seems like the world is overflowing with evil sometimes. More than once I have watched the news and gotten depressed about what is happening, not only in the United States, but all around the world. It's hard to see goodness in all of the evil. It's hard to see any light in this darkness. 

But there is Light! We must remember that this earth is not our final home. This evil presence will not endure forever; it cannot endure forever. Soon, and very soon, Christ will return for His Church and He will re-make the earth to be as it was intended - pure and holy. And everything will be good again - just as it was in the Beginning when God pronounced it good. 

Psalm 31:19 - "How great is Your goodness, which You have stored up for those who fear You, which You bestow in the sight of men on those who take refuge in You." 

Our God is not safe. He is powerful and holy and worthy to be feared and adored. But we cannot forget His goodness. We cannot go around preaching hell and destruction to those who are lost without showing them that the Maker of everything is good and loving and takes a personal interest in their lives. So often people back away from Christianity because through Christians (yes, through me) they see a judgmental and hypocritical God. Yes, God does judge, but His judgments are unlike ours. They are worthy and perfect. 

We must remember that unbelievers are looking at us. We must strive to be good just as our God is good. We must show them a goodness and a love unlike anything they have seen before. Maybe then we could get the Gospel message across. Maybe then people would start listening instead of immediately writing us off. 

This week, I challenge us all to look for ways to do good. Write someone an encouraging note or Bible verse. Give someone a hug. Have a meal with a close friend. Help someone in need. Think of others as better than yourselves. Reflect the goodness of God to those around you. We all need to be reminded that, in this world of evil and chaos, the Light reigns supreme. 

I think you will be surprised at just how good it feels inside when you do something nice for someone else. Who knows? Maybe it will change your life.