Last night, I was asked to be on a discussion panel about spiritual gifts in the Body Life class at The Crossing. Paul refers to spiritual gifts in Romans 12 and 1 Corinthians 12. Paul tells us that we all are given different gifts from the Holy Spirit and we are called to use these gifts to serve the kingdom.
On the panel, I made the statement that we must not confuse our talents with our gifts. I said that we all have different talents, but we aren't called to serve by our talents. For instance, I said, I consider myself a talented photographer, but I'm not called to serve the kingdom with my photography. I'm called to serve via my spiritual gifts of leadership, helps and administration.
Last Sunday morning, a good friend of mine lost his dad after a nine month battle with pancreatic cancer. I asked my friend several times how I could serve him. "What do you need?" I asked. For two days, his answer was "Nothing right now."
This morning, the day after my bold statement regarding the difference between talents and gifts, I received a text message from my friend asking me if I would be willing to take pictures of his dad laid in his casket and of the arrangements at the funeral home.
Really, God?
Just when I think I've got something about You figured out, You show me that I really don't know anything.
I was being called to serve my friend with my talent. My photography.
I LOST it. I felt God's presence like never before...and I've felt it before. Many times.
God told me to stop working so hard to figure things out. Stop putting Him in a box. Stop putting limits on what He can do through me and in me. Be still...and know.
If you doubt that God exists, just ask Him to reveal Himself to you. He will and you'll see that He does. If you think you've got God figured out...just ask Him to reveal Himself to you. He will and you'll see that you don't.
UPDATE (09/23/10): Yesterday afternoon, my friend texted me again and said that he'd changed his mind and didn't want me to photograph his dad. Knowing my friend the way I do, I speculate that he made that decision to "protect" me from a situation that he thought might be awkward for me. I respected his decision and told him that I was willing to do whatever he needed me to.
I still believe that God made a very clear statement to me that He can use my talents as well as my gifts to serve His kingdom as He sees the need.
Great post and great reminder about skill and talents. But even a greater picture of what serving God is all about...being available to love & serve one another. Its not always about that you have the skill or talent to take pictures - its that you were willing and available to do whatever you could for your friend.
ReplyDeleteAnd because you were willing and available you ministered to me in ways you do not know. Thank you. -your friend