Use Your Gifts to Share God with Others

"We have nothing to do with how much ability we've got, or how little, but with what we do with what we have. The man with great talent is apt to be puffed up, and the man with little (talent) to belittle the little. Poor fools! God gives it, much or little. Our part is to be faithful, doing the level best with every bit and scrap. And we will be if Jesus' spirit controls."    -S.D. Gordon, The Bent-knee Time

What if I told you that it is well within the abilities of every person reading this today to do something truly outstanding for Christ’s kingdom. Some of you would probably say, "Yeah, right!" But, I am here to tell you that it is true! In fact, I’d like to present to you the life of one man in the Bible who seems not to have had many talents. In fact, I doubt he thought he had any talents, and, to be truthful, I can only see one talent. But oh what a talent! It is a talent that you too possess, whether you realize it or not!

Very little is known of this man from the scriptures although he was one of the original 12 disciples. At every turn he seems to have been over-shadowed by his more outgoing and multi-talented brother. Who is this person? It’s Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother!

Andrew, like his more famous brother, Peter, was a fisherman from Capernaum in Galilee. But he must have taken some time off from the fishing business from time to time to pursue his interest in spiritual matters. For, when we first meet Andrew in the Bible, he is already a disciple of John the Baptist. Andrew is in the crowd one day when John points to Jesus passing by and says, “Look, the Lamb of God!” And so, interested and intrigued, Andrew follows Jesus to find out more about him (John 1:35-40).

Now, I don’t know what all took place that evening in the home where Jesus was staying, but it must have been some discussion, because later on those two disciples even remembered the very hour that it took place. “It was about the tenth hour,” (or about 4:00 P.M. by our method of counting time).

It was a very significant hour for Andrew—an hour of decision, an hour of opportunity, and an hour that was to change his life forever. Whatever it was that was said, Andrew came away with the conviction that he had found the Messiah he had been looking for!

I want you to notice that, because of that conviction on the part of Andrew, every time we meet him in the Scripture he is bringing someone to meet his Messiah. That's Andrew’s one talent, and that's the talent within the ability of everyone reading this message today—the ability to introduce people to Jesus!

Certainly, others were brought to Jesus by someone else. Nathanael was sitting under a fig tree one day when Phillip came to him and said, “We have found the one Moses wrote about in the Law, and about whom the prophets also wrote—Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph. … Come and see.” (John 1:45-46). But all John the Baptist had to do was point Jesus out; Andrew had to find out for himself.

Now, there may be some where you live, and some even in your church who need to do some personal investigating of the claims of Christ, and some searching of their own hearts and minds. It may not be as easy for some to come to the same point of acceptance and obedience as Andrew, but it is equally necessary for all.

It’s easier for some to become a Christian, than for others. Those who were raised in a Christian home for instance. But what about a Jewish man or woman, what about someone who is a Mormon, or Islamic, or Muslim? It’s very hard for them to become a Christian.

Family members who are still of their giving religion will deter them with all their heart, and many of those who come to Christ anyway feel like they are betraying their family. But, praise God that many go ahead and make that decision for Christ even though it is tremendously hard for them.

Andrew evidently considered the privilege of being a follower of Jesus as a gift from God to be shared with others. He is a good example of a basic principle of Christianity—that everyone who comes to Christ should bring others.

Maybe you can't preach, or sing, or teach, or play a musical instrument; but you can speak a word about Jesus to a friend or neighbor. Perhaps you can write a letter of comfort, or encouragement to one who is in need. You may not be able to do everything, but (like any one of us) you can do something.

Scripture: 1 Peter 4:10; Romans 12:6; 1 Peter 4:10-11; Colossians 3:23-25; Matthew 25:29; 2 Timothy 1:6; John 3:16-17

Prayer: Dear Father, please let what I do make a difference in the world. Amen

May God bless you always,

Amy Lynn