This post has been inspired by the series of events in my life this week that showed how giving, forgiving and good our God is.
In my line of work, I try my best to be well aware of the skill sets and talents of the people I work with. This is one of the many things I picked up from the book, ‘How to Win Friends and Influence People’ by Dale Carnegie. I use this as an instrument to encourage and build up their morale especially during difficult times. I couldn’t recall the number of times I have witnessed how compliments and encouragements changed the mindset of people. They gained faith, strive harder, went the extra mile and achieved the goal.
Unfortunately, personally I did not have someone who do the same for me. I felt like I needed to have my emotional tanks filled too. Don’t we all? Have you ever felt like you have given much and none was left? It’s like you had worked so hard, but still was unappreciated? Or you have forgiven, understood their side and been patient and now you’re asking, was it really worth-it? In short, your mind goes, “WHAT ABOUT ME”?
Call me selfish. But be honest with yourself. If you’ve had this feeling, I have good news and bad news. Good news is, you’re human. Bad news is you have forgotten who loved you FIRST. Okay, another good news, I had gone thru the same feeling and I want to share with you the things God told ME.
Lesson number 1– Use your gifts to bless others. (2 Cor. 9:11). God told me that He has given me the gift of encouragement. Highlighting: GOD GAVE ME. Let me emphasize that it is God, Creator of the Universe, the Ultimate Provider of His children who blessed me with a gift/s. So how in the world will I run out?
You ought to know what your skill sets are. If you do, then use your gifts to bless others. CCF, our church reminds us that we are blessed to be a blessing. It was not meant to be kept for yourself. Nor was it meant to be hidden because you’re shy.
Knowing your gifts hold so much blessings.
Aside from the fact that:
B. You will also grow in maturity with this God-given gift. C. you will bless others. But more importantly, YOU PLEASE GOD. And isn’t that what our life’s purpose should be? (1Cor. 10:31, Col. 3: 17).
Tip: Being joyful as you do something is one way to find out your God given gift. (i.e. giving-charity works or acts of service, writing, singing).
Lesson number 2- Draw your strength from the Giver. Everything good comes from God. All our thoughts, initiatives, speech and good works are from Him.
“I know that nothing good lives in me, that is, in my sinful nature. For I have the desire to do what is good, but I cannot carry it out.” –Romans 7:18.
Having the goal to please God and understanding that all good things come from Him and not from us, takes the attention and credit away from self. We become less mindful of what we THINK WE DESERVE and more in tuned with HOW MUCH GOD HAS BLESSED US. Again as previously mentioned, to please Him.
Drawing your strength from the Giver-whether it be love, wisdom, humility or patience also heightens the NEED to commune with God. For how can we be informed what to do if we don’t listen?
I would like to end on a statement that Sean shared with me. He said, “Someday when I meet God, I would like to show Him that I used up ALL the talents He has given me in this world.” I agree. Wouldn’t you too? Our God deserves our all.