It's interesting to me the whole time we've been reading through 1 Corinthians 12, Girl Talk has been doing a series on envy. (I would have put up a direct link but at the time of posting, none of their blog pages were loading. The series started March 15 and has been going on almost every day since then.)
What is is about women in particular that causes us to be compare-mongers? We're (almost) always putting ourselves up against the haves and have nots of other women. She has better clothes. I have better kids. She has a better husband. I have a bigger house.
Are you like that with your gifts? Do you think of yourself as better off or more spiritual or more blessed because you have a particular set of "important" giftings while most other women around you have "far less important" gifts? Or is it the opposite? In other words, do you feel that you are worth less or can have less of an impact for God because you don't have as "great" a set of giftings as other women around you do?
Both of these positions are a terrible trap. Paul reminds us in 1 Corinthians 12:4-6 that all the gifts--ALL the gifts (even the ones we view as insignificant)--are provided and empowered by the same Spirit, Lord, and God.
How can we get out of the trap? I think one of the best things to do is to reflect on our memory verse for this month, 1 Corinthians 12:7.
First of all, our gifts are not our own: "To each is given the manifestation of the Spirit..." They aren't something that we've earned, or something that's been given to us because we deserved them. They are God's, and they are His to give out as He sees fit. Do you think too highly of your gifts? Remember that they have been given to you. Do you think too low of your gifts? Remember that the God of the universe gave them to you. Does He do anything insignificant?
Second of all, the gifts are not for us: "...for the common good." We are to use them to build others up. God is in the business of bringing us together so that we can encourage each other. Do you think too highly of your gifts? Do you puff up and put yourself above others as the Corinthians were doing, losing sight of their ultimate purpose? Remember that they are for the common good. It's not about you. Do you think too low of your gifts? Are you reluctant to exercise them because they don't mean much, or because you don't think they're important? Remember that they are for the common good. God gives good gifts to His children. If you are one of them, what He has given you is good, and you should put it to good use.
My thoughts for the month's meditation. We'd love to hear yours.
Tuesday, April 27, 2010
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