“Having then gifts . . let us use them.” Romans 12:6 NKJV
“Even the best and most useful gifts can remain unused if unappreciated.”
My thoughts today are about “unused gifts.”
Have you ever received a gift for which you never found a proper use? You know; gifts that end up on a shelf with clutter, or at the bottom of a closet, or somewhere among the stacks of stuff in your garage. That certainly was never the intention of the giver. There was a reason when they chose it and gave it; they likely envisioned their gift as being what you wanted or needed, a gift that would be helpful, useful. Somewhere in their mind was an idea of its usefulness when they selected it for you. God would certainly intend no less for you. See James 1:17 NKJV. God is the most generous of givers ever! Consider how many gifts He has personally chosen and graciously given that remain unopened and on the shelf.
Some marvelous gifts are labeled for “Whoever will,” such as the wondrous gift of salvation. “That everyone who believes in Him shall have eternal life. For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life.” John 3:15-16 NIV. No wonder Paul wrote, “Thank God for His Son – a gift too wonderful for words.” 2 Corinthians 9:15 NLT.
Can you imagine anyone knowingly leaving such a gift unused? But many have! Jesus wept over a people He had come to save. “He was in the world . .and the world did not know Him. He came unto His own (people) and His own did not receive Him. But as many as received Him to them He gave the right to become the children of God.” John 1:10-12 NKJV.
The Holy Spirit is also God’s gift, available to “Whoever will.” “Then you will receive the gift of the holy Spirit. This promise is to you and to your children, and even to the Gentiles – all who have been called by the Lord our God.” Acts 2:38-39 NLT. The Spirit is to provide you the necessary power to live righteously, successfully and victoriously. Too often people leave this precious gift of God on the shelf – unused because it is wrongly considered optional, thought unnecessary, or deemed too controversial. Know this: any and everything God offers to you is beneficial and useful.
Some gifts are personally chosen for particular people, each gift as personally selected and suited as the individuals themselves. “Each one has a special gift from God, one person this gift, and another one that gift . . It is the one and only Holy Spirit who distributes these gifts. He alone decides which gift each person should have.” 1 Corinthians 7:7 TEV/12:11 NLT. Even the best and most useful gifts can remain unused, if unappreciated.
“Since we have gifts that differ according to the grace given to us, each of us is to exercise them accordingly.” Romans 12:6 NAS. Jesus told the story of a man who was given a measure of his master’s wealth with the expectation that he would use it wisely and profitably. Read Matthew 25:13-30 NLT. When his master returned and asked for an accounting of his efforts and success, the gift had been left unused! His explanation? “I was afraid and hid your money in the ground.” vs. 25. Such a foolish and needless waste! The gift could have been useful, but it was left unused!
The tragedy is this: gifts unused, opportunities missed, achievements limited, a life wasted, and eternity sacrificed. Imagine a gifted life that was left unused; don’t let yours be anything but useful for the purposes of God.
My prayer for you today is: value all that God has given you, to be used as He anoints and intends.