Are you a spectator or a participant? Our weekend football stadiums are filled with zealous fans who create a lively, vibrant atmosphere. Spectators cheer, applaud, chant, and celebrate each victory. Many wear their team’s jersey and wave flags to show their support. Millions of sports fans poor their passions into watching others use their gifts and talents in pursuit of their goal.
Unfortunately, many of our churches are also often filled with spectators who are excited for the gospel to be preached, enthusiastically join in worship, and applaud each baptism. They might wear their church’s logo, display the logo on their vehicle, and faithfully attend each weekend. They say they’re “sold out for Jesus,” but they are content to watch others use their gifts and talents in pursuit of the Great Commission. They assume that full-time pastors and missionaries are the only ones God uses to help folks find eternal truth. However, Jesus has called each of us: “Go, therefore, and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, teaching them to follow all that I commanded you; and behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age” (Matthew 28:19-20).
Throughout the New Testament we read of God’s desire for each person to fully utilize their gifts and talents to serve others (1 Peter 4:10). Paul wrote, “And He gave some as apostles, some as prophets, some as evangelists, some as pastors and teachers, for the equipping of the saints for the work of ministry, for the building up of the body of Christ” (Ephesians 4:11-12). Paul likened Christians to many parts of the same body, all useful and important: “For the body is not one part, but many… Now you are Christ’s body, and individually parts of it” (1 Corinthians 12:14, I Corinthians 12:27). Just as a body, we are all to work together.
Nowhere in Scripture does it tell us to watch as others use their gifts and talents. Nowhere does it tell us to keep them for ourselves. “However, since we have gifts that differ according to the grace given to us, each of us is to use them properly: if prophecy, in proportion to one’s faith; if service, in the act of serving; or the one who teaches, in the act of teaching; or the one who exhorts, in the work of exhortation; the one who gives, with generosity; the one who is in leadership, with diligence; the one who shows mercy, with cheerfulness” (Romans 12:6-8).
Even if we cannot see our own gifts and talents, there remains our calling to go and make disciples. When we step out in faith, God will use us just as we are. In time, we will come to see how God has equipped us for His mission. Maybe the pastor can lay out the gospel more eloquently, but not everyone comes to know Jesus through eloquent words. In fact, most people will be more influenced by the testimony of how you live and how well you love others. That can look like taking a meal to a sick neighbor, volunteering on the junior high campout, helping a single mom with an oil change, paying a utility bill for a co-worker with unexpected medical expenses, or watching a game with a lonely widower. These are the kind of selfless acts that take you out of the stands and put you in the game.
Scripture Reading: 1 Corinthians 13:1-3
Personal Application: Loving others is the greatest play you can make. Be intentional about what God has called you to and who He has set before you. Are you ready to participate? Who can you actively love today?
Jim Grassi, D. Min.
We cherish any verse in Scripture that reminds us to keep focused and intentional about evangelism and discipleship. “But you, keep your head in all situations, endure hardship, do the work of an evangelist, discharge all the duties of your ministry.” 2 Timothy 4:5