How might my abilities become a liability or danger?

Deuteronomy 8:11-14“Beware that in your plenty you do not forget the Lord your God and disobey his commands, regulations, and decrees that I am giving you today. For when you have become full and prosperous and have built fine homes to live in, and when your flocks and herds have become very large and your silver and gold have multiplied along with everything else, be careful! Do not become proud at that time and forget the Lord your God.”

When our abilities bring success and blessing, we are in danger of becoming complacent and forgetting that God gave us those abilities to serve him and others. Another danger of having great ability is becoming proud and thinking we no longer need God’s help or advice from others.

Judges 13:3, 5, 24The angel of the Lord appeared to Manoah’s wife and said, “Even though you have been unable to have children, you will soon become pregnant and give birth to a son . . . He will begin to rescue Israel from the Philistines.”

Judges 16:1One day Samson went to the Philistine town of Gaza and spent the night with a prostitute.

Judges 16:4-5, 19-20Some time later Samson fell in love with a woman named Delilah . . . The rulers of the Philistines went to her and said, “Entice Samson to tell you what makes him so strong and how he can be overpowered and tied up securely. Then each of us will give you 1,100 pieces of silver.” . . . Delilah lulled Samson to sleep with his head in her lap, and then she called in a man to shave off the seven locks of his hair . . . and his strength left him. Then she cried out, “Samson! The Philistines have come to capture you!” When he woke up, he thought, “I will do as before and shake myself free.” But he didn’t realize the Lord had left him.

Matthew 25:21“Well done, my good and faithful servant. You have been faithful in handling this small amount, so now I will give you many more responsibilities.”

James 4:6He [God] gives us even more grace to stand against such evil desires. As the Scriptures say, “God opposes the proud but favors the humble.”

We can turn our abilities into liabilities. Each ability has the potential for problems. If we neglect a certain ability, we squander that God-given talent. If we use it for selfish reasons instead of for God’s work, we abuse it. When we rely on our abilities apart from the Lord, we can become proud. God rarely works through the proud and self-sufficient. Does my pride in my abilities limit my ability to serve God?

2 Chronicles 20:12“O our God, won’t you stop them? We are powerless against this mighty army that is about to attack us. We do not know what to do, but we are looking to you for help.”

Jehoshaphat, king of Judah, was overwhelmed by the attack coming against the nation, because he knew his abilities and resources were no match for his enemies. But God opened the way to success through faith. Our dependence on God is far more important than the abilities we have.

Psalm 147:10-11He takes no pleasure in the strength of a horse or in human might. No, the Lord’s delight is in those who fear him, those who put their hope in his unfailing love.

Zechariah 4:6“This is what the Lord says to Zerubbabel: It is not by force nor by strength, but by my Spirit, says the Lord of Heaven’s Armies.”

God requires our faith more than our abilities. He often uses our abilities in proportion to our faith. If we want to delight God, we should say “yes” to him, step out in faith, and watch him accomplish his will through us. Abilities give us the potential to do good; faith gives us the power and wisdom to do good. When we trust in our limited abilities, we can only go as far as they lead us. When we trust in our limitless God, we can follow him to places beyond our hopes and dreams. His ability, not ours, is the ultimate assurance of success.

Exodus 4:10-12Moses pleaded with the Lord, “O Lord, I’m not very good with words. I never have been, and I’m not now, even though you have spoken to me. I get tongue-tied, and my words get tangled.” Then the Lord asked Moses, “Who makes a person’s mouth? Who decides whether people speak or do not speak, hear or do not hear, see or do not see? Is it not I, the Lord? Now go! I will be with you as you speak, and I will instruct you in what to say.”

When God called Moses to lead Israel out of Egypt, Moses tried to refuse. He insisted he didn’t have the speaking ability to be such a leader. But God used Moses to become arguably the greatest leader in Israel’s history.

Judges 6:15“But Lord,” Gideon replied, “how can I rescue Israel? My clan is the weakest in the whole tribe of Manasseh, and I am the least in my entire family!”

Gideon felt insignificant, but he trusted God’s leading even when the odds were against him. In the end, God used Gideon to free Israel from the Midianite oppressors.

1 Kings 19:3-4, 10Elijah was afraid and fled for his life. . . . He sat down under a solitary broom tree and prayed that he might die. “I have had enough, Lord,” he said. “Take my life, for I am no better than my ancestors who have already died. . . . I have zealously served the Lord God Almighty. But the people of Israel have broken their covenant with you, torn down your altars, and killed every one of your prophets. I am the only one left, and now they are trying to kill me, too.”

1 Kings 19:18“I [God] will preserve 7,000 others in Israel who have never bowed down to Baal or kissed him!”

Jeremiah 20:10, 18I have heard the many rumors about me. They call me “The Man Who Lives in Terror.” They threaten, “If you say anything, we will report it.” . . . Why was I ever born? My entire life has been filled with trouble, sorrow, and shame.

Jeremiah 29:11“I know the plans I have for you,” says the Lord. “They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope.”

Elijah and Jeremiah are two of the most famous prophets in the Bible, yet both struggled with depression and even suicidal thoughts. God didn’t give up on either of them. Instead, he comforted them, strengthened them, and gave them hope.

1 Kings 19:16, 21“Anoint Elisha son of Shaphat from the town of Abel-meholah to replace you as my prophet.” . . . So Elisha returned to his oxen and slaughtered them. He used the wood from the plow to build a fire to roast their flesh. He passed around the meat to the townspeople, and they all ate. Then he went with Elijah as his assistant.

Jeremiah 36:4-8So Jeremiah sent for Baruch son of Neriah, and as Jeremiah dictated all the prophecies that the Lord had given him, Baruch wrote them on a scroll. Then Jeremiah said to Baruch, “I am a prisoner here and unable to go to the Temple. So you go to the Temple on the next day of fasting, and read the messages from the Lord that I have had you write on this scroll. Read them so the people who are there from all over Judah will hear them. Perhaps even yet they will turn from their evil ways and ask the Lord’s forgiveness before it is too late. For the Lord has threatened them with his terrible anger.” Baruch did as Jeremiah told him and read these messages from the Lord to the people at the Temple.

Sometimes, when our own strength or abilities near their limits, God offers help through the blessing of friendship. When Elijah was feeling most alone, God sent Elisha to join him in his ministry. When Jeremiah was unable to share the message God had given him, Baruch faithfully wrote down Jeremiah’s words and delivered the message. If a task seems too great for you alone, ask for God to send others to join you in the work.

Philippians 2:20-22I have no one else like Timothy, who genuinely cares about your welfare. All the others care only for themselves and not for what matters to Jesus Christ. But you know how Timothy has proved himself. Like a son with his father, he has served with me in preaching the Good News.

1 Timothy 5:23Don’t drink only water. You ought to drink a little wine for the sake of your stomach because you are sick so often.

1 Timothy 4:12Don’t let anyone think less of you because you are young. Be an example to all believers in what you say, in the way you live, in your love, your faith, and your purity.

Timothy was young, timid, and not physically robust, yet God used his leadership to bless the early church.

2 Corinthians 12:5-10I will boast only about my weaknesses. If I wanted to boast, I would be no fool in doing so, because I would be telling the truth. But I won’t do it, because I don’t want anyone to give me credit beyond what they can see in my life or hear in my message, even though I have received such wonderful revelations from God. So to keep me from becoming proud, I was given a thorn in my flesh, a messenger from Satan to torment me and keep me from becoming proud. Three different times I begged the Lord to take it away. Each time he said, “My grace is all you need. My power works best in weakness.” So now I am glad to boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ can work through me. That’s why I take pleasure in my weaknesses, and in the insults, hardships, persecutions, and troubles that I suffer for Christ. For when I am weak, then I am strong.

God works through everyone who relies on him in humility and faith. In fact, our weakness often becomes the tool by which God leads us to rely most fully on his power. God is not limited by our limitations, and he often uses those weaknesses for his glory.