I had a ‘bucket list’ moment with my lovely wife recently. We went to see Stevie Wonder in concert. As a lifelong musician, myself, getting to see someone like Stevie Wonder perform in person is a very special event. Perhaps you don’t realize the unbelievable talent he is and has been since childhood. His musical ability is literally off the charts. He certainly inspires me. However, it also makes me sad to think of how many broken marriages and relationships he has experienced in his life because of his drive and commitment to his music above all things. As amazing as his musical gift is, life is bigger than a talent.
I often hear people in the church comment on how they believe Christians should have the best ideas, be the most creative, and operate at the highest levels of talent and influence because we belong to God, and He’s the best so we should be too. (Or something to that effect) I tend to disagree.
As a Christian, I am no better or more talented than anyone else. The Bible tells us that we have ALL been made in God’s image. Additionally, Jesus died on the cross for everyone to have salvation. Now, that doesn’t mean that everyone believes or accepts these truths, but that doesn’t make them any less true. The point is, what makes any person great is that they were created by God in His likeness (Genesis 1:27) and that Jesus gave His life for every person to receive forgiveness and redemption in order to live that abundant life He gave back to us at the cross (John 3).
You may say, ‘but doesn’t God need us to be superior in our intellect and artistic ability in order to effectively reach other people with the Gospel? Doesn’t God need good representation?’ I suppose if the Christian life was some sort of cosmic talent show or a popularity contest of sorts that would be the case. However, the overwhelming pattern in scripture is that God uses the least and most unlikely vessels to reveal Himself. I believe God does that because people need Him way more than they need us. Our great abilities can certainly draw people to us because they are impressed and want to know how we became so great. Our weaknesses, however, draw people to Jesus because it is obvious that we should not be able to succeed past others more gifted and that draws people to wonder at Him. He alone is worthy of our wonder.
I do believe we should offer our gifts and talents with excellence. We should give our best because God is worthy of it. However, we must keep in mind what Pastor Jimmy Evans once said, ‘Excellence is a standard. Perfectionism is a sickness.’ I believe much of the attractive humility of the Gospel has been sacrificed on the altar of ‘excellence’ because it became a striving for greater performance rather than a celebration of God’s ability in our inability.
The truth is, I want to be the best musician, writer, speaker and minister that I can possibly be but these are not the only goals I have in life; I want to be a wonderful husband, father and friend as well. For every waking hour that I could be honing my craft on my instrument or reading another book to sharpen my intellect, my kids will be growing like weeds down the hall and my beautiful will be waiting for my attention. They are worth my time and investment much more than my talent.
So here’s the bottomline, do your best and trust God for the rest. Be excellent in love beyond any talent or ability you have. God promotes people not just abilities. Remember, your talent can take you places where your character cannot keep you. But your character can take you places your talent never could.
But earnestly desire the best gifts. And yet I show you a more excellent way. Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I have become sounding brass or a clanging cymbal. 2 And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. 1 Corinthians 12:31-13:2
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