Embrace Your Gifts

I want to take this opportunity to admit something I am jealous of: skills. Specifically, handyman skills. The kind of skills that enable you to fix things—when your toilet breaks or you need a picture hung, want a new fan or your oil changed, you just do it. All by yourself! You see something on HGTV and create it. The sink stops up, so you bust out the wrench and a bucket, and voilà! You’ve saved yourself $100! It all just seems so darn efficient to me.

Alas, I am not a handy person, although I make a valiant effort. In my garage I have my own drill, an assortment of tools and fasteners, and a stud finder that’s pretty cool. But that’s about where it ends. I have the tools, but I just don’t have the mindset for it. Behind each of the pictures I hung with my fancy drill, there are no less than three to four “practice” holes. I repainted my kitchen cabinets, but I definitely cut corners on the whole sanding thing. I may or may not have scared my husband a few years ago when I threw a proper fit on our back porch because I couldn’t figure out how to attach a gate to the top of our steps. No matter how much I want to be, or try to be, a skilled handywoman, I’m missing some of the necessary tools― and I don’t mean the physical ones. Some people just have the “gift” for this kind of work.

What Are Spiritual Gifts?

When we talk about “gifting” in the faith, we usually are taught from a couple lists found in the new Testament, namely and Romans 12. By definition, spiritual gifts are given to us by God to use in the service of others and to glorify him. A quick search for “spiritual gifts” give us words like hospitality, healing, leadership, prophecy, service, wisdom, and administration. Over the years, I’ve enjoyed the opportunity to use surveys and studies to help discern my own spiritual gifts. It is by studying and understanding these Scriptures and their application that we learn how to best serve in the ways we are designed.

Today, I want to take us one step further in our study of giftings. It’s a step into the past. Have you ever looked at the way God equipped people with gifts in the Old Testament? He did it quite a bit when he was calling people to use their gifts for the building of the tabernacle. It’s such a cool lesson.

“Then the Lord said to Moses, ‘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 wisdom, with understanding, with knowledge and with all kinds of skills— 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 crafts.’” (Exodus 31:1-5 NIV)

“Then everyone came whose heart was stirred, and everyone whose spirit was willing, and they brought the Lord’s offering for the work of the tabernacle of meeting, for all its service, and for the holy garments. They came, both men and women, as many as had a willing heart . . .” (Exodus 31:21-22 NIV)

“Then Moses called Bezalel and Aholiab, and every gifted artisan in whose heart the Lord had put wisdom, everyone whose heart was stirred, to come and do the work.” (Exodus 26:2 NIV)

Look! There they are! Right there in the pages of the Old Testament are those handy crafters I long to be like. They not only had the physical skills, but also wisdom, understanding, knowledge, willing and stirred hearts, and the Spirit of God needed for the task. It made me smile that God took the time to gift them with both the internal and external gifts they needed to do the work he called them to do.

After reading this, I realize now that I have been far too shallow in my prayers about giftings. In a lesson I have learned many, many times over, I have been imagining God too small. Maybe you have, too. So let’s pray differently. Let’s pray in ways that are deeper and fuller so that our service may be richer, sweeter, and more fruitful.

Praying for the Fullness of Our Giftings

Lord, enhance my internal spiritual gifting. Teach me and show me how you have designed my personality, my spirit to serve you. Lead me into wisdom and into opportunities that allow me to serve others in a way that is enhanced by who you made me to be.

Lord, I am not only my internal characteristics. You have made me good at things. You have given me physical talents that are as unique to my calling as anything else. Help me to see how those giftings are also part of how you call me to serve others.

Lord, give me a more complete understanding, a more complete picture of your fingerprints on my design. As I see in those who served to build the tabernacle, give me not only wisdom, understanding, and knowledge. Give me skills, a heart that is stirred, and a spirit that is willing.

I am going to let go of some of my jealousy today and lean into the internal and external skill sets God has placed in my life. I’ll leave the crafting and building to others, those whom he has called in those ways, and I’ll write. I’ll write because that’s the skill he gave me to hopefully call you to serve in the skills he gave you. I love how uniquely he loves and designs us all to do our jobs. He is so creative.

What a God.

“For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.” (Ephesians 2:10 NIV)

Anne Rulo is an author, speaker, professional counselor, marriage and family therapist and veteran coach’s wife. She and her husband Tim have two children and are passionate about reaching people for Christ and sharing information on coaching, marriage, family, and mental health. Read more from Anne at www.annerulo.com.