Little Is Much When God Is In It
By Pastor Mark Taylor
God deserves your best. You were made for a purpose and He expects you to make the most of what you have been given. Don’t worry about the abilities you don’t have, instead, focus on the gifts and abilities He has given you. Most people think that abilities that can be used by God in the church are limited to preaching, singing, and teaching. But these are only three of many things that God uses.
Here is a partial list of gifts and abilities that the Bible lists as spiritual gifts: giving, helps, mercy, hospitality, faith, administration, intercessory prayer, craftsmanship, humor, and leadership.
- “There is a lad here, which has five barley loaves, and two small fish: but what are they among so many?” (John 6:9)
- "And He looked up and saw the rich putting their gifts into the treasury, and He saw also a certain poor widow putting in two mites. So He said, "Truly I say to you that this poor widow has put in more than all; "for all these out of their abundance have put in offerings for God, but she out of her poverty put in all the livelihood that she had." (Luke 21:1-4)
The little lad had the gifts of giving and helps. The bread and fish didn’t seem like much, but when Jesus blessed it, five thousand men were fed, not counting the women and children. The poor widow had the gift of giving. You may not have much to give, but when there is a special offering for hungry or needy people, you can give something. You may not have the gift of preaching or teaching, but God may have given you the gift of inviting and bringing people to church who may become preachers, teachers, and givers.
God doesn’t want you to be just a spectator, but He wants you to be actively participating in His work on earth.
- “Let every person prove (find) his own work, and then shall he have rejoicing in himself alone, and not in another.” (Galatians 6:4).
God loves to use people who feel they have little to offer. We think that God only wants to use our strengths, but he also wants to use our weaknesses for His glory. God has never been impressed with strength or self-sufficiency. In fact, He is drawn to people who are weak and admit it.
When you think of the limitation in your life, you may be tempted to conclude, “God could never use me.” But God is never limited by our limitations. In fact, he enjoys putting his great power into ordinary people.
- “But God hath chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise; and God has chosen the weak things of the world to confound the things which are mighty” (I Corinthians 1:27).
- “And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for you: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me” (2 Corinthians 12:9)
Admit your weaknesses, instead of living in denial or making excuses. Live with the weaknesses in your life you cannot change. Take opportunities to learn new skills and receive instruction in the areas God has given you gifts and abilities. We are far more likely to be compassionate and considerate of the weaknesses of others if we know we have weaknesses. That means other people are going to find healing in your wounds. Your greatest life messages and your most effective ministry will come out of your deepest hurts.
You will never know what you are good at until you try. When it doesn’t work it is ok, it is your faith that God rewards. If you try working with teenagers and you don’t “understand” them, try working with children or senior citizens. If you don’t like working with groups of people, maybe your gifts are working on God’s house and property to make it a beautiful and comfortable place to worship. If you don’t have much time, give so others can be blessed.
- “If anyone ministers, let him do it as with the ability which God supplies, that in all things God may be glorified through Jesus Christ, to whom belong the glory and the dominion forever and ever. Amen.” (1 Peter 4:11).
Your little can become something great if you allow the Lord Jesus to use it.
