What do you know how to do? What are you passionate about? Are you good at it? Know someone in the same field as you? Feel threatened? Well you shouldn’t!
All of us have been giving gifts, talents and abilities that have the dual purpose of glorifying God and edifying each other. But too often we become envious of others when we see they have the same or similar gifts and talents as us. However, we have no right to get territorial about the gifts we have because we did nothing to receive them. 1 Corinthians 12:11 says “But one and the same Spirit works all these things, distributing to each one individually as He wills.” (NKJV) No one has the right to feel negative towards another person because they feel someone else walks in their God given gifts better than they do. Nor do we have to feel inadequate about the gifts God has given us because the truth is there is no such thing as a “lesser gift”.
People make the mistake of becoming personal managers over their gifts, thinking they can do whatever they want because they own that right. Instead they need to come to the understanding that these gifts are not something you work hard to get, because they’re not yours but Gods. However, while we can’t work to get them we must work hard to maintain them as stewards for God. We have been entrusted by God with these gifts to bring Him glory and help others, that’s it. They are not given for self-gain, however when we are faithful God will allow the fruit of your stewardship to bless you.
There’s yet another reason we don’t have to be envious of anyone else’s gifts. Proverbs 18:16 teaches us “A man’s gift makes room for him, And brings him before great men.” (NKJV)You never have to worry that there will be no use for your gifts because another person is operating in it. The word says a man’s gift will make room for them, meaning that each person’s gifting will make room for them. It does not say we have to compete, worry or diminish another person for what God has called them to do. As each person remains faithful, obedient, and disciplined working in their area of gifting, talents and abilities God will make sure opportunities will open up specifically designed for them.
Our gifts, even if similar, are given to complement each other as we work in the kingdom to glorify God!
