We rely on our abilities and skills to travel life's highway and byways, and we get a big head, thinking we are oh so smart and able. Then a child gets sick, a house burns, a job ends, a dream is delayed or ends and we realize that no matter how hard we struggle and demand our own way there comes a time when the light comes on: I am not in charge.
Oh, I certainly am responsible for applying the gifts, abilities and skills that God has given me and to learn from opportunities to learn. But there are two things that are important to remember about our own competence:
(1) Everybody has been provided with a set of gifts and a set of challenges to increase our strength, and opportunities to make use of both, but no matter how big we see our basket of talent, it is still a basket given to us and pride about a gift given seems pretty silly to me. So I strongly recommend respecting all people because every person is necessary and bears capacity to be a part of the solution. I am neither better nor worse that anyone else and no one is better nor worse than me in the larger picture.
(2) All our talents and abilities and gifts become more efficient, more effective, more amazing when we let God into the mix. The greater we make room for God in our lives the more amazing are the things we can accomplish.
Now I am not saying everyone will play for NFL or be a business big wig or wear general's stars. But in the bigger picture, how important is any of that? What I mean is this: each of us was created for a purpose (or many purposes) and that is the important thing. If you are not playing piano in Carnegie Hall, but are making beautiful music playing for the residents at a nursing home or teaching children to enjoy music then you are very successful.
The less we rely on ourselves and the more we rely on God, the more exciting and productive and powerful our lives will be.
He gives power to the weak, and to those who have no might He increases strength. Is 40:29
Oh, I certainly am responsible for applying the gifts, abilities and skills that God has given me and to learn from opportunities to learn. But there are two things that are important to remember about our own competence:
(1) Everybody has been provided with a set of gifts and a set of challenges to increase our strength, and opportunities to make use of both, but no matter how big we see our basket of talent, it is still a basket given to us and pride about a gift given seems pretty silly to me. So I strongly recommend respecting all people because every person is necessary and bears capacity to be a part of the solution. I am neither better nor worse that anyone else and no one is better nor worse than me in the larger picture.
(2) All our talents and abilities and gifts become more efficient, more effective, more amazing when we let God into the mix. The greater we make room for God in our lives the more amazing are the things we can accomplish.
Now I am not saying everyone will play for NFL or be a business big wig or wear general's stars. But in the bigger picture, how important is any of that? What I mean is this: each of us was created for a purpose (or many purposes) and that is the important thing. If you are not playing piano in Carnegie Hall, but are making beautiful music playing for the residents at a nursing home or teaching children to enjoy music then you are very successful.
The less we rely on ourselves and the more we rely on God, the more exciting and productive and powerful our lives will be.
He gives power to the weak, and to those who have no might He increases strength. Is 40:29
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