I’m currently taking a leadership class, and it’s given me a lot of insight into how I interact with others when I’m in a position to lead them. Let me just note at the outset: I’m realizing I don’t have much leadership experience to draw from to begin with. But I’m happy for the learning experience, especially considering that leading is not always done in official capacities. We all have opportunities to influence others in some form, whether it be at work, school or in friendships.
One element of leadership that we focused on this week is how to encourage the strengths of other people, and it made me think about spiritual gifts. It’s so cool that God has apportioned to everyone certain abilities that help them to fulfill His calling on their lives. Sometimes I lose sight of the fact that the Lord is equipping me to do a valuable work in this present time, and I instead act as though I’m just floating through this life without a clear directive. I don’t always know where I’m being led and there are many times when I have questions about the future, but I can trust that God has a purpose in every season and He will empower me to carry it out with the gifts that the Holy Spirit provides.
I think there are a lot of treasures regarding the nature of spiritual gifts that I have yet to unearth through the scriptures, prayer, and through life experience. But there are a few memories that come to my mind that make me thankful for God’s grace in providing for us to do what he wills. I’ll share this one specifically:
Last summer, I was asked to be a youth counselor at a weeklong Christian camp. Let me express this clearly: I was terrified. Maybe that’s a bit of an overstatement, but I felt largely unqualified to do the job – mainly because I had never even been to a summer camp as a kid. I had no prior youth counseling experience. Yet, despite all of these seemingly glaring disqualifiers, I felt that this was something the Lord wanted me to do. I couldn’t escape it. So I packed up and went, having only a minimal idea of what to really expect. It turned out to be an experience that I will honestly value and remember for the rest of my life, not because I was able to prove myself as having superior counseling abilities – but because God provided for me. He made a way when I was somewhat apprehensive about how things would turn out.
Does that story relate to spiritual gifts? In some way, I think it does. Because even though I’m not sure that I discovered a substantial calling in my life during that time, I learned a lot about God’s ways in apportioning tasks. If I would have decided to go or not go based on my perceived abilities, I would have stayed home… God wanted to show me that he is the decisive giver of every good and perfect thing (James 1:17). Every mission he sends us on and every job he gives us to do comes from him. And the same goes for spiritual gifts. Perhaps the gifting he provides you will surprise you. But he is the decisive giver, and he regularly uses our proclaimed weaknesses to show his strength.
I don’t think about others’ giftings as often as I should, but I want to be more discerning and encouraging of them. Each member of the body of Christ has a crucial role to play, and as we function in a unified manner according to what we’re given, earth-shaking things can happen. Genuine service can happen. And that’s one element of leadership that has been stressed several times in my class already: Service.
I think service can seem daunting. It does to me sometimes. What should I do specifically, and how? What strategies should I employ? I’m thankful that in Christ there is no need for confusion or human striving. God will make a way for us to will and to work for his good pleasure (Philippians 2:13). He’ll show us where to go when we submit to him (Proverbs 3:5-6). He’ll gives us the desires of our hearts (Psalm 37:4). He’ll give us all the power we need (Romans 8:11).
I’m praying that in everything God gives – every calling, gifting, every season that he brings me to – that he will provide me with the grace to be a good steward. I’m praying that he’ll show me how to serve as Jesus served, and that he will make me one who always encourages. I’m praying that he’ll help me to fix my eyes on the Kingdom coming. It’s going to be great.
Joy Pursuit 