Using Your Gifts

I've been thinking about how we as Christians are expected to use the gifts that God has given us. Mostly because of the comments I get when I sing.

You see, I used to be a singer in a famous children's choir. I've sung overseas, including at an audience for the Pope, for royalty, ambassadors, etc. And that was before my voice matured. Now I sing well.

And boy do I ever get comments. Both in the world and in the church, people who barely know me, who otherwise would never speak to me, will tell me what a beautiful voice I have and how I should be doing something with it.

This is kinda annoying. They heard me singing. Clearly I'm doing something with my voice.

But it's one thing to hear this at work, or other places in the world. I expect to be told that I should be releasing CDs and singing professionally (and presumably raking in the money) there. The world likes money, it likes fame.

But in the church?

I get told at least once a month that I should be part of the worship team. I was even ASKED to be part of the worship team - even though I'm not a member of JG (which is a requirement for such things). I said no, explaining that I was quite vain enough about my voice.

But seriously, why is it that the only way of "using a gift" is to do so in the most public possible manner?

God looks at the heart. He doesn't look at my voice the way people do. He considers it just as well used if I am singing to calm a crying child as if I am singing in front of thousands - and possibly singing for the child is far more important.

We need to focus on using our gifts the way God wants us to; not on "using" them in the most public manner possible.