Our Gifts Can Bring Joy
It is the one and only Spirit who distributes all these gifts. He alone decides which gift each person should have.1 Corinthians 12:11 (NLT)
Today, we continue Emmanuel’s story. When Emmanuel quit his job at the Coca-Cola Company, he went back to the slums. He had no idea what God wanted him to do. On the first Friday, he went to an all-night prayer meeting at the church. At the meeting, he was happy to see Megan, a friend that he hadn’t seen for a while. She told him that her father had broken his spinal cord in an accident, leaving the family with no income. As the eldest, her family and community were pushing her into prostitution to support her family. Megan and one of her friends became his first recruits in an IT company he started to help young people develop computer skills in graphic design, web development and other software technologies. Those who finish the courses are helped to find meaningful employment locally and globally.
Immanuel started with one laptop. Today, he runs 6 social enterprises and employs 120 young people. The revenue generated is reinvested in community training projects. To date, he has reached more than 7 000 young people and created nearly 4 000 skilled jobs.
Authentic Gifts
The gifts God has given us are part of God’s grand design to restore the brokenness in our dark world. To breathe His ruach into the lives of those He has called us to serve. God has given us active roles to play in the arena he has placed us in or is leading us into. When we allow God to direct us in stewarding our gifts well, we will bear much fruit. Our work will be rewarded.
God has designed us uniquely with purpose. So the gifts He has for us are unique; they are meant especially for us. We are to be authentic in the gifts that God has bestowed on us because they fit into God’s unique plan for us. When we desire gifts others have and were never meant for us, we follow a path we were never meant to walk. A path that will dissatisfy and distract us from our true gifts. A path that will not bear fruit for the kingdom as God intended.
Emmanuel’s gifting to serve, teach, encourage, and lead (Romans 12:6-8) brought him joy as he helped lift many out of their hopelessness in his sphere of influence in the slums of Uganda. In whichever sphere of influence God has placed us - the corporate world, the classroom, the health sector, government, or the slums of Africa- He will empower you by His Holy Spirit to guard, treasure and steward the gifts He has entrusted to you. He will empower you to be strong and courageous so that you can share Christ’s love and bring joy to others, expecting nothing in return.
You have not lived today until you have done something for someone who can never repay you. John Bunyan
Reflection:
Are you walking in the authentic gifts God has given you so that you can be part of God’s plan of restoration?
Prayer:
Help me, Lord, to know the unique gifts You have for me so that I can bear fruit for Your kingdom. Help me not to envy the gifts others have. Empower me to use my gifts to encourage and bring joy to others. In Jesus’ name, amen.
