"...that keeps on giving..." by Kylie Hill
While still living under the reign of my parents, my
mother, knowing my spending habits far exceeded my savings, volunteered my
services around the neighborhood as a babysitter. After one particular
traumatic job involving four scheming red-headed darlings and two escape-artist
wildebeests of dogs, I resigned, vowing to myself "never again." I tell you
this because last weekend I decided to fill in for my roommate on a babysitting
job. I needed the cash, so here goes nothing, I thought. Overall, the job was
easy-peasy: we watched a movie and the two girls painted their toe nails before
they went to bed.
I arrived early to meet the parents. After they
understood I had no criminal record, we played the getting to know you game.
"So, do you play tennis, like your roommate Audrey?"
the mother asked. No, I don't play tennis.
"Oh, what sport do you play?" she continued. None, I
am not hand-eye coordinated, which seems to be of importance when trying to
play sports. Not satisfied with this, she pressed on.
"Do you play a musical instrument?" Again, I
answered with a now-resounding no. One awkward pause later and we were
discussing dinner plans and bedtime procedures.
After following through her instructions, and the
kids were fast asleep, I replayed this conversation in my head. In general, I
am satisfied with knowing that I am not a Type-A personality and overachieving
has never appealed to me. However, I was disturbed that I had no real talent to
speak of. I was depressed by the idea of mediocrity. These thoughts paralleled
a situation I found myself in a few weeks ago. At The Well's community groups,
we were asked to identify to our group our personal spiritual gifts and how
they might be used to benefit and build the church. I was at a loss again.
We are taught in 1 Corinthians 12 and Romans 12: 3-8
that believers are given spiritual gifts according to the Holy Spirit's choice
or direction. The first place in the New Testament "spiritual gift" is
mentioned is Romans 1:11-12, in which Paul writes to the church, "I long to see
you, that I may impart to you some spiritual gift to strengthen you, that is
that we may be mutually encouraged by each other's faith, both yours and mine."
We can draw from this text that spiritual gifts are for strengthening one
another in faith. In 1 Peter 4:10, Peter says, "As each has received a gift,
employ it for one another". It is a gift not just for ourselves, but to help
others; the gift that keeps on giving, if you will. Think about the labeled gifts
listed in Romans 12: prophecy, service, teaching, etc. In their very basic
form, each gift is used as a tool to strengthen our own faith and others. After
considering this, I reevaluated my quest to find a spiritual gift to
acknowledge the simpler question, "What can I do to help strengthen others in
their faith?" Instead of worrying whether I am putting my specific gift on
display, I am exerting effort to help others, and in turn I am working towards
the aim of a spiritual gift, "that in everything God might be glorified through
Jesus Christ" (1 Peter 4:11). And that is certainly not mediocre.
