Today's Devotional

 

February 11, 2008

                                                                             

Subject:  Watch How You Use That Gift

1 Peter 4:10 "As every man hath received the gift, even so minister the same one to another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God"

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God has gifted us all and it is very important that we use that gift wisely.  I thought about this last week as I was patrolling the lunch room at the high school and attempting to calm down some loud and rowdy students.  As I discussed with the group their need to be more quite, one student began to deride the fact that I wore my pants and the waist instead of half-way between my butt and my knees as many of them attempt to do.  He then made another joke about my bald head and my age.  Of course God has gifted me with a rather quick wit, which I've had since high school when we used to "rank" on each other and now a days, they call it "chopping."  So this student went on with one line after another and finally I responded so that they could all hear, "boy that line was funny.  I bet those 6th graders are gonna really like that one when they're your classmates."  The other students seemed shocked and let the young boy know that he was being "chopped on."  

We really do have to be careful how we use our gifts.  God wants us to be good stewards of the talents and abilities that He has given us.  Key to the use of your gifts is whether they are building people up or if your gifts are tearing them down.  I think now that perhaps I should have responded differently to the student.     

Today, watch how you use that gift.  It can be dangerous. 

Carlen