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God is working in all of our lives and He uses different circumstances to lead us where He wants us to go. All of the gifts and resources in our possession have come directly from God but not everyone has the same gifts or resources as everyone else.
Gift of Money (Or
Other Tangible Things)
Just as God gives gifts of knowledge and skills He also can give the gift of financial wealth. The Church needs money for day to day operations and we have all been instructed to contribute financially to the Church. If you do not have the time or ability to contribute to the Church in any other way, your financial contribution can be your way of giving to God's service. There are times that the Church will experience lean times when there will be a need for something but the financial resources will not be available. These are the times that you can make a big difference by donating above the monthly tithe. God is capable of providing for any and all needs of the Church but isn't it a blessing that He allows us to use our free will to contribute back what He has given to us so abundantly?
Some of us are "people persons" and some of us work better in the background - out of the limelight. Both of these type people can be effective servants for God. Your knowledge and abilities are gifts that God has given you to use for His benefit. Lets see a couple of examples of how these two types of people can work for God. People Persons: These are people who find it easy to talk and interact with others. Church leaders, Bible study leaders and teen ministry leaders all fit into this category. They share God's word with others and help others along their spiritual journey. Maybe you have not been called to be a preacher of the word but rather to contribute in some other way. Find your gift from God and use it in His service. What do you like to do? We all have interests in something that we are good at performing. Maybe you like carpentry and can use this ability to help with the Church or you can us it to help someone in the congregation that has a need for a carpenter. Take stock of what you can share and then use it with the full knowledge and acknowledgement that it was God that gave you this ability and opportunity. Non-People Persons: Many people in this category do not feel comfortable talking with others or they may be shy around other people. However, they must not lose heart - God has used people in this category in the past and He can use them today. God has a way of changing people once they open up to Him and work for Him in His service. There are many needs within the Church that rely on people behind the scenes. You can help set up the chapel for Sunday services or maybe help with the bookkeeping and accounting for the Church. No job in God's service is menial. Just as there are many parts to a body so are there many parts to the body of Christ. All have their place and it takes all the parts working together to make things work.
Donating time in the service of God is yet another way to use the gifts God has given you. Not only can it be a way to give back to God to show your appreciation for what He has done for you but it also allows God to work in many different lives at the same time. Lets take an example and see how it could work. Lets say there is a congregation that has some people that think there is a problem within the assembly. They go to the church leaders looking for a solution to the problem. The church leaders are already overworked with their pastoral duties and don't think they can effectively deal with the problem themselves. So, we have the congregation that is not happy and then we have the leadership that is not happy and we have capable members that could handle the problem but were never asked, nor did they volunteer, to help solve the problem. All three of these groups are unhappy. Now lets say that you as a member of the congregation are capable of fixing this problem. You volunteer your time to help solve the problem and it does indeed get solved. Now you find that the congregation is happy (the problem is fixed), the leadership is happy (they do not have to assume duties beyond their resources), and you are happy because you are able to help solve a problem. All three groups are happy! Some have used their gift of compassion to comfort those with a fatal illness - helping them with their daily needs and talking with them and sharing the gospel - letting them know that they are not alone but have the love of God. God has given everyone gifts that they can use for His glory. Find out what you are good at and use those gifts for God's glory. |
