You've Got Talent

Despite what labels or judgment the world may put on us, in the eyes of God, we are each hand-crafted … lovingly and carefully created … one-of-a-kind. To God, to Him who made you, you are a somebody and always will be. And even if I’m forgotten … a blip on the screen … I have a role to play … a unique part to play in history, in God’s plans. I may not be the best pastor to ever serve this church but I am the pastor of this church for a reason. I am one of many pastors that God has used or will use to shape and mold this church, to teach and guide this church as it grows and changes and plays its unique part in God’s plans and purposes.

The exact same thing applies to the churches, which are all part of the body of Christ. We all have different talents, different spiritual gifts … combined, our talents and gifts make this church unique and God has brought each of you here with your God-given talents and gifts because He has a specific purpose or plan for this church … and that purpose or plan is part of God’s overall plan for all of His creation.

Mega-churches are mega-churches because God has a purpose and a need for mega-churches. They have a huge pool of talent and gifts and resources which allow them to do what no church this size could possibly do. While we may not be a mega-church … now … or ever … only God knows … we have our God-given gifts and talents and our resources which are unique to us and specifically tailored to God’s plans and purposes. The same goes for storefront churches and home churches. We all, as individuals and as a church, have our part or role to play.

A well-known conductor was holding a rehearsal one night. It was a full rehearsal with the whole orchestra and a hundred-voice choir. As they rehearsed, all the instruments blended and molded together. The voices weaved in and out. The music was punctuated by the blare of horns and the crashing of cymbals. Sitting in the back of the orchestra, the piccolo player thought to herself: “With all these loud instruments, it doesn’t matter what I do.” So she stopped playing. Suddenly the conductor stopped the music and looked right at the piccolo player and said: “It doesn’t sound right without you. If you don’t play, the concert is off … we need you.”

This is want was going on at Paul’s beloved church in Corinth. It was a church about the size of this one – about 40 or 50 people. Like us, mixed socially, economically, and culturally. Being a fairly new church, it had its share of problems and issues. There were arguments, divisions, lawsuits, and immorality. There was confusion about marriage, food sacrificed to idols, worship, the Lord’s Supper, the resurrection … and spiritual gifts.

Some people thought that their “spiritual” gifts were more important than the gifts that other people had. I mean, before we judge, let’s face it, at first glance it’s easy to fall into the belief that the ability to perform miracles or heal the sick are pretty important and impressive gifts to have … and it might be easy to assume that they were more important to the work of the Lord than, say, the ability to give wise advice, speak in foreign languages, or teach. And it’s easy to see how those who had certain abilities might consider themselves or those who have those gifts as being, well, more blessed or favored by God. And this confusion or misunderstanding was creating a lot tension and division within the church. And so, in this section of his letter to the church, Paul comes up with five directives that he hopes will clear up their confusion about spiritual gifts. And I hope it will clear up any confusion or misunderstandings we may still have today.