Question on using Skills for God


by Rev. Jack Barr

Subject: Re: help please
Date: Thu, 24 Jan 2002 21:22:20 -0600
From: Jack Barr
To: xxxxx@xxxxx

Hi xxxxx,

You said:
I believe God uses the talents He gives us to deliver His messages. I pray before I write and draw, that He will guide my hands and my thoughts. I have been told by some, that this is a silly notion. Please help me if you can.

Question:
Is there any scriptures that speak of using our talents for God or of God using our talents to speak to the world?

Answer:
Yes! I will not list all of them, but here are a few verses which speak to this question. There is not one thing silly about praying to God for His help on anything. All of God's people do that, and even many or the pagans pray to their false gods for help.

Matthew 7:11 If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children, how much more shall your Father which is in heaven give good things to them that ask him?

Our Lord promises to give us Good Gifts. These gifts can, and has been, more than just the physical things we need. As we will see below that this also includes every skill that we have, such as the skill to draw, paint pictures, write books, etc. For myself, my skills are mechanical.

Note that this verse tells us that God will give the kind of gifts you ask for. God has given you the skills to do whatever it is that you do, but when you pray to God asking Him to guide your hand so that He may be Glorified by what you are doing, you can be absolutely certain that God will indeed guide your hand for His Own Glory, and you will create works that are beyond anything that you could ever do without God's help.

1 Corinthians 7:7 For I would that all men were even as I myself. But every man hath his proper gift of God, one after this manner, and another after that.

The Bible tells us that every man and woman on the Earth has been given some kind of gift, or sometimes multiple gifts. These are not just the Gifts of the Holy Spirit as listed in the bible, but include all gifts. One has been given the skill to do one thing, while another person has been given the skill to do another. One may be able to run fast, another to be a great cook, or to be able to fix anything. One may have the talent to write poetry, or a story book. One might have the skill to fly an airplane, while another can catch fish every time they go out. The list of skills is endless.

These are all gifts that God gave us.

James 1:17 Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning.

Whatever talent that you have and use came from God above. God will give you the gift, the skill, to do a perfect work. Some of the best poems, that I have read, came from what many would call just a common housewife. No training, just the gift of God.

Romans 11:29 For the gifts and calling of God are without repentance.

Whatever gifts that God has given to you or to anyone else are yours for life. God has promised that He will not take that Gift or skill away from you. Like riding a bicycle, once you learn how to use that skill, you never forget, you can go back and do it 50 years later. But like riding a bicycle, if you have not exercised that skill for a while, you may be a little rusty, a little shaky starting up again. But if you continue to practice any skill, you will get better as time goes on. God will not take it away from you, however, there is a saying by man that says "Use it, or Lose it." If you do not exercise the skills that God gave you, you may loose interest in that skill, and never do it again. God will not take it away, but we can throw that skill away ourselves.

Exodus 28:3 And thou shalt speak unto all that are wise hearted, whom I have filled with the spirit of wisdom, that they may make Aaron's garments to consecrate him, that he may minister unto me in the priest's office.

The Old Testament speaks of God giving people the wisdom, the skill, or the talent to create beautiful things. In this case, the skill or talent was to be used for the Glory of God. You will always do your finest work when you are doing it for God's Glory. Whatever we do we are to do it for the Glory of God, for this is God's desire.

Exodus 31:3 And I have filled him with the spirit of God, in wisdom, and in understanding, and in knowledge, and in all manner of workmanship,

Exodus 35:35 Them hath he filled with wisdom of heart, to work all manner of work, of the engraver, and of the cunning workman, and of the embroiderer, in blue, and in purple, in scarlet, and in fine linen, and of the weaver, even of them that do any work, and of those that devise cunning work.

In all manner of workmanship. It is not just limited to hammering gold, painting pictures, weaving glittering cloth, it is for even the simple things such as moving a rock, pulling weeds out of the garden. Whatever kind of work, the Lord God will send the Holy Spirit to instruct you on how to do the job the best way. When you place your trust in Our Lord God, God will respond.

May this answer lead you to continue your work to Glorify Jesus Christ and God the Father. May this answer help you to continue praying each and every time for God to guide your mind and hand.

Do not be put off or upset by those who are too far away from God to know, or to understand, what you are doing. Be assured that God knows, and is helping you. And there are others who will look at your work and be lifted up toward God.

With the Love of Jesus

Rev. Jack Barr


Return to Question Index
Return to Main Index
Return to Jack's Home Page