What Can You Do?

What Can You Do?

There are different kinds of spiritual gifts, but the same Spirit is the source of them all. . . . A spiritual gift is given to each of us so we can help each other.

1 Corinthians 12:4, 7

The Bible plainly teaches that every believer has been blessed with at least one special gift to use in service to God and to other people. Sometimes, though, identifying that particular gift and exactly how it can best be put to work is a challenge. It reminds me of this story:

A married couple returning to America from Europe by ship became interested in an attractive red-cheeked Finnish girl traveling in economy class. They spent quite a bit of time getting to know her, and they found that she was coming to America to look for work. After a few days together on the ship, they came to like the girl a lot, so they decided to offer her employment in their home.

Calling her to their first-class cabin one day, they tried to discover exactly how they could work together.

“Can you cook?” they asked.

“No,” said the girl, “I can’t cook. My mother always did the cooking.”

“Well,” they said, “then you can do the housework.”

“No,” she said, “I don’t know how. My oldest sister always did the housework.”

“Well, then, we could let you take care of the children.”

“No, I couldn’t do that. My youngest sister always took care of the children.”

“Well, can you sew?”

“No,” said the girl, “my aunt always did the sewing.”

“Well, then, what can you do?” cried the despairing couple.

The girl was quite bright and cheerful as she volunteered, “I can milk reindeer!”

O Father, I know that you have blessed me with special gifts and abilities. I am very thankful to you for blessing me so. Please help me to find the exact place in your church and in my life to use those gifts to honor and glorify you. Amen.