Many Hats, One Purpose

Each one us have different identities that require us to wear a different "hat." Some of the hats we use are the ones of a mother, a wife, a sister, an aunt, a friend, and a co-worker. By the end of the day we may have switched hats numerous times to fulfill a certain responsibility. When we go over to our hat collection and really begin to examine each one, we might notice that some hats are worn more than others. We can tell from the tears, the holes, and the stains which ones we put on more. We might even have some hats that still look brand new because we haven't worn that hat too much. It might be a hat that you don't want to wear because you aren't comfortable wearing the hat, but like talking about it. When we examine our Christian life, we can think of our hats as spiritual gifts. God gives each one of us a certain spiritual gift and just like our hats, we are expected to use them. God didn't bless us with a spiritual gift just so we can hang it up and admire it. He expects us to utilize it to further His kingdom!

Paul reminds us in Romans 12:6-8, that we each have a different gift according to the grace given to us. God gives us gifts so we can build up His church. In order to use them effectively, we must (1) realize that all gifts and abilities come from God, (2) understand that not everyone has the same gifts, (3) know who we are and what we do best, (4) dedicate our gifts to God's service and not our personal success, and (5) be willing to utilize our gifts wholeheartedly, not holding anything back. Our purpose is to be faithful and to seek ways to serve others with what God gave us.

Look at this list and imagine the kinds of people who would have each gift. Prophets are bold and articulate. Servers are faithful and loyal. Teachers are clear thinkers. Encouragers know how to motivate others. Givers are generous and trusting. Leaders are good organizers and managers. Those who show mercy are caring people who are happy to give their time to others. It would be difficult for just one person to have all of these gifts. Romans 12:4 tells us that, "just as each of us has one body with many members, and these members do not have the same function." Our ministry cannot function if we all had the same gifts, just as our ministry won't be its best if its people don't use their gifts. Identify your gifts and ask God to reveal to you how He wants you to use them to build up His family. We are to be thankful for people whose gifts are different from ours because where one is weak the other is strong. Together, we as a family, can build up Christ's church.

A couple of months in Life Groups, we took a spiritual gifts inventory and discovered our God given gifts. When you examine these gifts can you honestly say that you wore it out from using it too much or have you hung it up to admire it and talk about it to your friends? Do your spiritual gifts reveal that you have "worn it with pride?" If your gift was serving, how have you served at the Refuge? If your gift is an encourager, how have you encouraged someone for the Refuge? If your gift is teaching, how have you taught at the Refuge? If your gift is giving, how have you given to the Refuge? As we begin to multiply our Life Groups, try not to think about leaving your comfort zone in one Life Group, but start thinking about how God can use this multiplication and your gifts to reach people through The Refuge. The opened doors at Stacie's apartment complex is a HUGE blessing for us. God is giving us a chance to really show Him how we will use the gifts He gave us to reach people. It means that we might have to get out of our comfort zone and talk to people that we have never met. It means that we might have to encourage people that we have never talked to before. This week, I challenge you to find ways to use your spiritual gifts. As we begin to use our spiritual gifts we must remember that they all serve a purpose and that is to build up Christ's Kingdom and win people for Him. We may not be comfortable using the gift because we have never had to use it before. If you never step out in faith and realize that God doesn't make mistakes in issuing us our spiritual gifts, then you will never know the blessing that you will be missing. Use your spiritual gifts so much that if they were to resemble a hat then you would see holes, tears, and stains in which you would admire and proudly say, "man, I really wore out that hat!" Then you would be comforted in knowing that God will say, "Well done, thy good and faithful servant."