Gifts of Skill, Teaching, and More
Scripture Reading — Exodus 35:30-35; 1 Corinthians 12:7-11
The Lord . . . has filled him with the Spirit of God, with wisdom, with understanding, with knowledge and with all kinds of skills . . . to engage in all kinds of artistic crafts.
The Holy Spirit supplies natural talents, the learning of skills, and many kinds of spiritual gifts for the benefit of all.
At the time of Moses, the Lord filled Bezalel with the Spirit, wisdom, knowledge, and many skills to work with metal, stone, and wood in all kinds of artistic crafts. God also filled Bezalel and others with the ability to teach so that many more could become skilled workers and designers. All of these gifts can be used to give glory to God.
God also gifts some people to be administrators, in order to guide and lead others in the church and in the surrounding community, to build ministries and structures and systems that can benefit everyone. All of these things can be developed and used to bring glory to God.
To some people the Lord also gives gifts of healing and miracles. And more often he gives gifts of learning and discovery so that people can learn how to make medicine and discover cures for diseases. The benefits of medical science and technology have been able to help billions of people around the world, and for all of these good things we can give glory to God.
In addition, God gives gifts of encouragement and mercy for serving others in many ways (see Romans 12:6-8). In the church and in society, mentors, counselors, and service workers of all kinds provide help and meet the needs of other people in countless ways. To God be the glory!
Lord, you have given all of us gifts. May we use them to honor you and to bless others. Amen.
About the author — Dean Deppe
Dean Deppe has been a pastor in inner-city, suburban, and rural churches. Currently he teaches New Testament theology at Calvin Theological Seminary. His courses include one on the parables of Jesus. He and his wife have four grown children.
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