Gifted for One Another

Romans 12:3-8

            No man is an island. No man walks alone.

            So go the lyrics of an old standard. We would write it much more inclusively today, but the sentiment expressed would be the same. No woman or man lives unto themselves. We are in relationship with one another and, according to St. Paul in this remarkable passage of Scripture, gifted for one another.

            Paul begins by reminding us not to think of yourself more highly than you ought to think, but with sober judgment, each according to the measure of faith God has assigned. (vs. 3)  For Paul this is much more than a simply injunction to be humble. This is not a biblical command to be milk toasts in the world! Rather, from the faith that we hold we are to see the gifts God has given each of us and recognize that we are inter-dependant with one another.

            God has made an eternal investment in every one of us! We celebrate that investment not only in ourselves, but in one another. Together God will accomplish more for good that God would individually. This is God’s multiplication principle: with God, you and I do not add up to two; we add up to eternity.

            This past Wednesday this was made visible when we celebrated the music program of Redeemer. The children and adults sang and played bells. The variety of music and performance was shared as witness to the grace of God in gifting us with talents and those who can help our talents grow. The multiplication principle of the Holy Spirit was evident because the joy we experienced was greater than simply sharing in music. The power of God to touch our lives by bringing us together was wonderful. After the event one of our member-disciples told me it was so good that he didn’t want it to end.  He was not a participant – he saw the work of so many and heard their joy in what they shared. What he couldn’t do, he could celebrate others doing. Now that’s the Church and that’s what Paul has in mind in this brief text.

Discipleship lesson: We can have great self-confidence in our identity as children of God but humility in our understanding that we are called to greater good when we work with one another.

Lord Jesus Christ, remind me that you can multiply my gifts beyond my ability to even imagine it if I will only work with you and those you place in your Church. Amen