Moments for the Heart

This past week, our pastor preached how we, as Christians, pass up moments to share our stories with others because of reasons our minds concoct. Whether it be laziness, apprehension, or just plain fear. He explained that when we are presented with an opportunity, we are then given a command to share the gospel. He went as far as stating we need to look for opportunities to spread the word of God.

What spoke to me most was one statement he made. Many of us believe God either can’t or won’t use us. We move through life with a false sense that we are not good enough. But the truth is that once we begin to use our talents more, we will have opportunities to use them for God’s glory.

It’s not that simple, Jeff, you may think. You don’t know what I’ve been through. Well, it is that simple. And it has everything to do with what you’ve been through. Rather, what you can do. What are the things you can do? What are you good at doing? It can be something like the word spoken in Matthew 25, giving financially, or it can be a derivative, giving of your time and talents. What can you do? What are your talents? Giving out of your abilities is just as important as opening a pocketbook.

This is the way our pastor explained it. He said opportunities are like purchasing a car. You never see the make and model you are shopping for on the road until you buy it. Then, every turn you make, it’s at every light. The same can be said of working for the Lord. You begin to act on the opportunities presented to you, then you will see more of them around you.

It doesn’t have to be complicated. You use the talents God has given you. What do you do well? Use that to serve the Lord. If it is giving, then give. If it is assisting the elderly, then assist. If it is changing the oil of someone’s car who is unable, then lube up. If it is simply praying for your neighbor, then wear out a patch in your carpet. You know what God has given you that only you do best. For me it is writing. I know that I need to be writing for His glory.

We will then be rewarded, just as the good and faithful servant was in Matthew 25. But at the same time, there is a warning. If we ignore the calling God gives us, or take pride in ourselves, then He will not recognize what we thought we did. God always gets the glory. It’s never for us; it’s for Him. In all cases, we need to be ready for Him. He calls us to love everyone, make the most of every opportunity presented to us, and not pass up those opportunities when we are called.

Photo by Elijah Mears on Unsplash