4 Lessons on what to do with your God-given Gifts
Text: John 7:1-24
In this account there was this feast going on in Judea and Jesus was trying to keep a low profile because there were some people who wanted to kill him. In the midst of this Jesus’ brothers who had not yet believed in him, were heading to this feast and they thought that he should go “show” himself “to the world”. Their reasoning was that people would see the works that he was doing they said:
"For no one works in secret if he seeks to be known openly. If you do these things, show yourself to the world" vs. 4.
Jesus responded to them that he wasn’t going to go up with them because his time had “not yet fully come”. He further explained to them that they could safely go up to the feast because the world didn’t hate them, he on the other hand, was hated because he spoke against the world’s evils. This is an interesting exchange between Jesus and his unbelieving brothers, as it provides a contrast between two world views, Jesus later expands on this when he does go up to the feast. See Jesus’ brothers who are still “worldly” that is secular…carnal, not Godly, they were operating on the assumption that one should seek to be known if one has something special. One should show oneself to the world right away, so that people could see and know that you’ve got this great thing. In other words, if you truly have it, you will flaunt it. Jesus on the other hand, had a different perspective, as a matter of fact, it was at the core of his ministry and teaching that he does not do his will but the will of his father. Jesus didn’t do anything because could do it, rather he only did what his father instructed him to do. Because he does God’s will, he knows that the world, in opposition to God, will not like him for it. Jesus didn’t seek to promote himself, but God and his righteousness, which always stands in direct opposition to sin.
Later on, Jesus does go up to the feast. As he explained to his brother, the Godly way, is to obey God, to step out when God says to. So when he does go up we know it is because he was given the release by God to do so. When he gets there, he doesn’t go to promote himself, but to teach. Interestingly, by doing what God called him to do, when he called him to do it, Jesus caused the Jews to marvel, they were amazed at him. Note that these are the people who were seeking to kill him in verse 1. More so, in verse 25 & 26, the people who were there were surprised, because they were wondering if this wasn’t the same man they wanted to kill and here he was speaking openly and his enemies weren’t doing anything to him. So the leaders were amazed at his wisdom and the people were amazed at his boldness. They marveled because, Jesus was demonstrating learning without having studied. Yet, Jesus did not take the glory for himself, instead he pointed them to his father who sent him. He says this:
"The one who speaks in his own authority seeks his own glory; but the one who seeks the glory of him who sent him is true, and in him there is no falsehood" V.18
As I studied and meditated on this passage of scripture this morning, I felt inclined to share this with you, in this I see a very relevant encouragement. As believers, we have gifts, opportunities, talents etc that has been given to us by God. A secular reasoning would be, that you need to ensure that everyone knows you have it. More so, in our modern times where if it isn’t posted, it didn’t happen or it doesn’t exist. We know that the way of the world is one of self-glorification, promotion and elevation but what is the way of the kingdom. One of my favourite authors A.W Tozer speaks of what he refers to as “self sins”, the self-sins he says (self righteousness, self-pity, self-confidence, self-sufficiency, self-admiration, self-love etc):
“They dwell too deep within us and are too much a part of our natures to come to our attention till the light of God is focused upon them. The grosser manifestations of these sins – egotism, exhibitionism, self-promotion – are strangely tolerated in Christian leaders, even in circles of impeccable orthodoxy. They are so much in evidence as actually, for many people, to become identified with the gospel… Promoting self under the guise of promoting Christ is currently so common as to excite little notice”
God has given us gifts and opportunities as believers for his glory and his purposes so that means we have to be careful how we go about it. We have to be careful that we do not seek our own glory, but God’s glory in the exercising of our giftings in ministry; in taking hold of the opportunities he has blessed us with in life. What was beautiful about this account was that when Jesus did it the way God wanted him to do it, even those who hated him marveled and many who heard believed (vs 31).
4 Takeaways from this passage
- We have to, through God’s help, operate according to God’s time and God’s will
- We must not allow others to manipulate us into trying to prove ourselves for human acceptance or praise
- We must be prepared to be rejected, hated or isolated by those who oppose God’s will or do not know God.
- We should expect that when God is glorified and we function in his timing, that lives will be saved and hearts changed as those we minister to come to believe in him.
Lord help me to wait on your divine timing and direction. Help me to not rush to try to prove myself to a world that does not know you, but to be a good steward of your gifts, opportunities, callings and talents. Help me to use all you have given me to honour you and not myself, just as Jesus showed us to. Amen.
I hope this was a blessing to you, I pray you will be encouraged that God knows what you are capable of, he knows what he has given you and when he wants you to use it. Don’t try to rush things because you’re scared or you’re being pressured, but move only when he says this is the way, walk in it… now.
Be a blessing,
Kelly PW
Kelly is the founder of Royalty Press United. Author of the Gemstone Royals fantasy series, Twist of Faith and Crossroads. Counseling psychologist, proud Grenadian and devoted follower of Christ.
