Makes Different

For who makes you different from anyone else?  What do you have that you did not receive?  And if you did receive it, why do you boast as though you did not? ~ 1 Corinthians 4:7

The fact of the matter is that we have what we have because God gave it all to us.  Our first job was given to us, our first breath was given to us, our home on this earth God allowed us to have.  It’s all His and we are to take care of it.  God allowed us to have everything around us; we did not do any of it on our own.  There is no such thing as a “self-made” man.  The Corinthian church prided themselves on their talents, spiritual gifts and merits, but Paul reminds them to deflate their egos and recognize that everything comes from God.  No one is better than the next and it’s no different now in the 21st century.  We are all God’s creation and have been given many different talents, spiritual gifts and merits and none of us have done this on our own.  In humility we need to remember that God has given us every good thing.  We each have different possessions and spiritual gifts and in God’s eyes, one is no better than the other.  No ministry is better than another, no outreach is better than another, and no pastor, or minister is better than another (as long as they stay true to the message of the gospel of Jesus Christ); they are all good gifts to the people from God alone.  We have no right to boast about our gifts, but should work as a team to spread the Gospel of Jesus.  Just like all our body parts have different jobs to make up our glorious working body, the same is with the church.  Some of us have the gift of discernment, some have the gift of prophecy, some have the gift of hospitality, and some have the gift of encouragement and prayer, but they are all important and needed to bring glory to God.  We are all unique and cannot, or should not boast about what we do, or what we have; it all comes from God.  Let us humbly walk before God and be thankful for everything He has given us and use our gifts, talents, and resources to benefit His kingdom. ~ Amen