Day 5 – The point of having and using gifts from God

Very truly I tell you, all who have faith in me will do the works I have been doing, and they will do even greater things than these, because I am going to the Father. And I will do whatever you ask in my name, so that the Father may be glorified in the Son. You may ask me for anything in my name, and I will do it.

John 14:12-14 (TNIV)

These verses we considered yesterday answer a very important question - why does God give us spiritual gifts? We know that one reason is for us to live the purposeful, satisfying lives God designed us to live, by putting the gifts into action. Another reason is for us to have an effective church body, where we rely on each other putting the gifts into action so that we can, together, achieve works as great or greater than Jesus. Our church should be famous for its good works. But why? The overall reason, and the greatest purpose of spiritual gifts, is “so that the Father may be glorified” – in other words, so God will be recognised, known by our friends and colleagues to be real, and given the credit for what he has done. The change this can cause in our workplaces is immense!

Jesus promised to do whatever we ask “in (his) name” – in other words, consistent with his will and purpose (to obey God the father), and in consultation with Jesus. How will Jesus keep this promise? He will act – he will use his body. Guess what – that involves us, because we are part of the body! So when we ask for God to do things, expect God to give us things to do – within the abilities God has given us. We should be ready to work together and act, and give God the credit for making this possible. So what kind of things should we be looking and asking to achieve, to glorify God?

Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others. In your relationships with one another, have the same attitude of mind Christ Jesus had: ‘Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage; rather, he made himself nothing by taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. And being found in appearance as a human being, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to death - even death on a cross!

Philippians 2:3-8 (TNIV)

We have this amazing ability to ask God to do what Jesus did, and be used to achieve what we ask for, so that God will be recognised. Paul is clear on how to decide what to do – it’s all about service to others, rather than selfish ambition. Jesus demonstrated this with his attitude and actions. Even though he was God (and not just connected to God, in the way that we are), he was human and showed us the way to glorify God – obey God, and serve other people.

Regardless of our status at work, this is what God is telling us to do with our talents, our gifts and our lives – serve our colleagues. At work people expect us to show ambition, and to act in our own interests rather than the interests of others. We need to agree our aims with God – what are we really ambitious for? It’s not wrong to want to do a great job – far from it. But we also have to keep God’s greater purposes for us in mind. These are achieved by working for God, obeying him, and following his orders to put others’ interests ahead of our own.

To consider and pray throughout today

• What is my greatest ambition? How does it reflect God’s call for me to serve others?
• What do my colleagues need? How can I serve them and help to meet their needs?