Romans 6:12-18 / Lk 12:39-48
We can get ourselves in a lot of trouble by playing the comparison game: She has more of this than I do; he has more of that; he’s twice as fast as I am, and she’s twice as smart. Making those kinds of comparisons, which may or may not be true, can blind us to our own very real gifts. It’s strange but true that many people have never really noticed the gifts that make them special and unique. And as a result, they’ve never used them in anything but a haphazard way.
That’s not what God had in mind in giving the gifts: they are for using — all of them! And those who fail to do so will impoverish both themselves and others, because gifts are never given just for us alone. They are for the family, God’s family.
And that leads us to today’s question: Have we spotted our gifts, all of them, and named them, and carried them where they’re needed? A truly content and peaceful heart is usually a good indicator that the answer is ‘yes.’ And a restless, uneasy heart bears the sad news that we haven’t. If the latter is the truth for you, don’t let the matter rest there. Look for the gifts, and for those who need them, with a more discerning and attentive eye. You’ll be surprised at how clear the answers become when you’re paying attention. And you’ll like the feel of a contented and peaceful heart.
