I love today's reading in Exodus 31 where it says in v2-4 'see I have chosen Bezalel son of Uri, the son of Hur, of the tribe of Judah, and I have filled him with the spirit of God, with skill, ability and knowledge in all kinds of crafts - to make artistic designs for work in gold, silver and bronze, to cut and set stones, to work in wood, and to engage in all kinds of craftship'.
WOW! Massive. Put your hands up if you think that if you do not have some sort of role within the church that you are not living out God's calling or living as a 'proper Christian'. Ok, keep your hands up. Now anyone who has ever become so busy doing 'church stuff' instead of living out and using the abilities and talents God has given you also put your hands up. Wow, I think there are quite a few of you.
Firstly, church needs volunteers. We all need to work together as the body of Christ to offer our services, love, attention and care to ensure that our church is well resourced and has everything in place so it can function. I do not doubt that. But...
Secondly, sometimes we get SO busy 'doing church' that we forget to 'be church'. We turn up so stressed on a Sunday morning that we don't have time to love one another or take the time to greet oneanother. We are ineffective as Christians and go home exhausted. So much for a 'sabbath day' which interestingly is also mentioned in this chapter. So Monday morning comes when we are to go and live out love in our secular work places and so on, and we are too exhausted to do so. NO no no. What kind of witness is this?
A few weeks ago I realised that on top of my full time job, I had 15 hours of service doing church stuff. So on top of my 40 hour working week, I then had 15 hours of meetings, service in church, and so on. 55 hours is too much. I was exhausted. My adorable housemates - the poor things, the people I need to witness to and love more than anything received the brunt of my exhaustion. It had to STOP!
So back to my point from Exodus. God gives us amazing talents and abilities and skills to use for His glory. Some of these, in fact many of them, include service within the church. Awesome. God is an excellent provider. However sometimes we overlook our God-given talents and do not use them because we are so busy doing 'stuff' which to be honest, sometimes really isn't that important.
God has made me an amazing teacher. It is a huge calling on my life and I am good at it, because I work at it as if unto the Lord. I really do. I don't always get it right, but often I do. If I am so busy at church, doing church stuff, it means that my teaching gets affected, the kids are affected and I am exhausted and moody. No. I need to live out this calling!
Have a think today about what talents and abilities God has given you. Are you using them? Are you living them out? Or are you either 'guilty for not doing church stuff' or 'stifling' your talents because you are doing church stuff instead? We need to get a good balance.
So if you are amazingly talented at skate-boarding - skateboard for the Lord with all of your might! If it is baking cupcakes - bake cupcakes as if unto the Lord with all of your might. If it's knitting, sewing, listening to people, gardening, making cups of tea, talking to people, painting, singing, clubbing (oooo controversial), hiking, making music.... do all of these things as if unto the Lord and BE THE BLESSING. How many people looked on Bezalel's work with awe and wonder, and how useful and amazing were his talents when used to make the Tabernacle?
Ps Tim R don't dislike me for saying this!
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