The Gift Given

At the end of the book Leaper: The Misadventures of a Not-Necessarily-Super Hero by Geoffrey Wood, our hero – James – is complaining about not wanting his superpower.  The conversation with his mentor goes like this:

“You have been changed, James.  You have been given a gift.”
“I don’t want this gift.”

“The gift is not for you – its for others.  Everything we are given is for others. God has already changed you and you can’t do anything about that.”

Think about that statement – the gift is not for you, but others. 

Sometimes we like to share our gifts because of how it makes us look.  Sometimes we think of our talents as ours to do with as we please – to control and make us happy.  But the intent is for a greater good beyond ourselves. God created each of us with a unique set of talents, gifts, and strengths.  The gifts were given for the benefit of others and to accomplish a work, a task, and purpose specific to each of us.  I can’t give it (them) back or trade them in.  I have been called to share them.

As a member of Gallup's Faith Practice noted, "We need to come to the realization that if we don’t contribute our gift, the entire world suffers a loss".  That is a powerful perspective.

The New Century Version of the Bible says it simply in Ephesians 2:10.  “God has made us what we are. In Christ Jesus, God made us to do good works, which God planned in advance for us to live our lives doing.”

You can’t give the gift back – are you using your gift for the benefit of others?