I am so glad we are not all the same.
The world would be boring and lacking many things if we were the same.
The great thing is that in the family of God, we are not the same either. Each one of us is talented and gifted differently specifically to serve in differing areas. As Paul the Apostle wrote:
''For by the grace given me, I say to every one of you: Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought but rather think of yourself with sober judgment, in accordance with the faith God has distributed to each of you.
For just as each of us has one body with many members, and these members do not all have the same function, so in Christ we, though many, form one body, and each member belongs to all the others. We have different gifts, according to the grace given to each of us.
If your gift is prophesying, then prophesy in accordance with your faith;
if it is serving, then serve;
if it is teaching, then teach;
if it is to encourage, then give encouragement;
if it is giving, then give generously;
if it is to lead, do it diligently;
if it is to show mercy, do it cheerfully.'' Romans 12:3-8
Paul clearly said we are not all meant to do the same thing. The different bits we contribute are what make the Body complete. If we were all serving the tables, who would teach? If we were all teaching, who would serve the poor? The point is to focus on what God has put in YOUR own heart to do because he equips you specifically for it.
In Jesus' parable (story) in Matthew 25:14 -30 of the Bags of Gold (Talents), he expressly revealed that God will not require us to give an account of what he told someone else to do, but he will request a report of what he told and equipped us individually for. Therefore your focus is not on what someone else is doing but on accomplishing what God has told you to do.
Paul describes some spiritual gifts Christ has given to make his Church stronger:
'' And that same Christ gave these gifts to people: He made some to be apostles, some to be prophets, some to go and tell the Good News, and some to care for and teach God’s people. Christ gave these gifts to prepare God’s holy people for the work of serving, to make the body of Christ stronger.'' Ephesians 4:11-12 ERV
It is this assignment that causes some to give their lives to preaching, caring and teaching Christians because that is the vocation for which they will give account. This does not mean any other vocation is less, it just means we all have to pay attention to that to which we are called.
So I want to encourage you that if God puts it in your heart to dedicate yourself to telling the good news or maybe to serve the wounded in war-torn areas, whatever he calls you to is what you should do. For there is no greater reward than being exactly where God wants you to be and serving in the way he has called you to serve. Anything else will lead to a lack of fulfilment.
''For when I preach the gospel, I cannot boast, since I am compelled to preach. Woe to me if I do not preach the gospel! If I preach voluntarily, I have a reward; if not voluntarily, I am simply discharging the trust committed to me. What then is my reward? Just this: that in preaching the gospel I may offer it free of charge, and so not make full use of my rights as a preacher of the gospel.'' 1 Corinthians 9:16-18
''If your gift is speaking, your words should be like words from God. If your gift is serving, you should serve with the strength that God gives. Then it is God who will be praised in everything through Jesus Christ. Power and glory belong to him forever and ever. Amen.'' 1 Peter 4:11
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