THE JOY OF GIVING YOUR GIFTS AWAY
KEY SCRIPTURE: For we are God’s masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things he planned for us long ago. Amplified - For we are His workmanship [His own master work, a work of art], created in Christ Jesus [reborn from above—spiritually transformed, renewed, ready to be used] for good works, which God prepared [for us] beforehand [taking paths which He set], so that we would walk in them [living the good life which He prearranged and made ready for us]. ~ Ephesians 2:10 (AMPC) AMEN!!!
Let me start by clarifying something… “joy” is different than “happiness.” I’m “happy” when it’s a warm summer day and I’m walking on the beach with my husband, (basically when things are going MY way!) and I’m grumpy when they’re NOT! But, I can have JOY all the time. Paul wrote the his letter to the Philippians while in prison, and that book is filled with the word JOY.
Why? How is this possible?
Because, even in prison, Paul had the joy of Jesus in his heart and he was doing what Jesus had called him to do.
As we just read in Ephesians, God has given each of us gifts - gifts that are unique to us. Maybe it’s cooking, or cleaning, or teaching, or singing, or encouraging, or healing…. whatever it is that you love to do, even when nobody else knows you’re doing it. You HAVE to do it… if you stop for too long, you start to twitch… it’s like something is off in your soul.
Way back in the Old Testament, one of God’s prophets, Jeremiah, was discouraged that nobody was listening to him… so he gave up and decided he wasn’t going to speak about God anymore! But after a while, he said he felt like there was a fire in his bones. (Jeremiah 20:9) He couldn’t help it! He HAD to do what God had created him to do.
And so do you!
In addition, our joy will always be amplified when we’re using our gifts to help others, because God lives and works THROUGH us. Even a paraplegic can be a powerful prayer warrior or even a motivational speaker like Nick Vujicic!
If you have a pulse - you have a purpose! And the amazing thing, (and as Rick Warren points out - in fact, he actually STARTS his “Purpose Driven Life” book by saying,) it’s not about YOU.
Yes, it’s OUR joy, but God calls us to follow Him so we can experience joy WITH Him. And believe me, His will for us is ALWAYS greater than ours. (He’s like the mighty ocean and we usually go to Him with a thimble-sized cup to be filled. He’s like, “Seriously?!!”)
Why did He create us? Why did He plan things for us to do?? He doesn’t NEED us. HE’S GOD!
It’s because He LOVES us. He invites us to partner with Him and experience His joy WITH Him., so we can be BLESSED… with Him!
Yes, the awesome thing about the gifts He’s given us, (and what truly shows the heart of God,) is that these gifts are not JUST for us… they’re for us to give away!
If we love to bake, and we just bake cookies for ourselves, that’s nice… but it’s AWESOME when we give those cookies away! (And then others LOVE us, too! Ha!) (Acts 20:35)
When we share our gifts with others, it brings joy to us, it brings joy to others… and it brings joy to God! A trinity … a cord of 3, not easily broken, binding us all together in relationship! (Ecclesiastes 4:12)
He gives us our gifts and includes us in His work not as a burden, but as a blessing!
So follow Him in your joy!
Don’t think you don’t have something to give. You DO. Again, if you have a pulse, you have a purpose. If you really want to experience true joy in your life, ask God how you can give the gifts He’s given you away. Ask Him to use you according to His will for your life… and then buckle in - because He will!!!
SCRIPTURES
Ephesians 2:10 ~ For we are His workmanship [His own master work, a work of art], created in Christ Jesus [reborn from above—spiritually transformed, renewed, ready to be used] for good works, which God prepared [for us] beforehand [taking paths which He set], so that we would walk in them [living the good life which He prearranged and made ready for us]. (AMP)
Philippians 4:4 ~ Always be full of joy in the Lord. I say it again—rejoice! (NLT)
Jeremiah 20:9 - But if I say, "I will not mention his word or speak anymore in his name," his word is in my heart like a fire, a fire shut up in my bones. I am weary of holding it in; indeed, I cannot.
Acts 20:35 ~ In all things I have shown you that by working hard in this way we must help the weak and remember the words of the Lord Jesus, how he himself said, ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive. (ESV)
Ecclesiastes 4:12 ~ By yourself you’re unprotected. With a friend you can face the worst. Can you round up a third? A three-stranded rope isn’t easily snapped. (MSG)