Given A Portion

One thing that ministered to me as I spoke the Lord's words to a friend the other night, is that we are all given a PORTION of His Spirit and His giftings. Like the scripture that says we are all parts of the body, and literally uses the idea of being a hand or foot or ear. But, here is how I presented it to my friend.

She struggled to feel useful or even progressive in her walk with God. She also said she didn't feel very good because she couldn't consistently be Jesus to people. I asked her if she knew her gifts and reminded her of this scripture. I told her that she wasn't Jesus because Jesus walked in the fullness of all the gifts. We walk IN Christ, not as Christ. We minister AS Christ did WITHIN the portion we are given.

In other words, we are given specific, or a portion of, gifts to minister to the body that ultimately makes it necessary to rely on others for the fullness. In particular, I pointed out our true search should be asking God to strengthen us in the way He has gifted us, rather than expecting to be able to minister in other ways.

I thought of the prayer of Jabez, and how he prayed for God to enlarge his territory. Such a prayer must be done with the understanding that we still minister in the giftings we have -- not as a whole, but as a part. We can achieve much and find greater peace when we seek to be strengthened in the areas God has gifted us. We find contention and dissatisfaction when we try to attain to ways of ministering that are not placed within us. That is envy at work.

So, what is your gift that God wishes to use? Are you satisfied in that gift? And, if not, is it time to enlarge your territory? If so, pray for it to happen, but keep it in the context of how God has created you.

Let me give you a personal illustration. I have spent my entire life in a upper middle class suburban setting, always without major financial worry. In the last few years, and especially since my divorce, my financial situation has funneled down to cause me to experience lack rather than abundance. I used to minister with my gift of GIVING and MERCY through monetary means. Now, I have to learn to minister without monetary means as well as receive from others in monetary ways. God is teaching me there is more than one way to GIVE. It has humbled me and taught me that money is not always the answer. You may know that, but do you live it? I am learning to be content in all circumstances like Paul, which is answered prayer. But, the downside of that is I must experience more circumstances to learn that, some of which are not so fun.

May God reveal to you the area in which He has gifted you and empower you to minister and learn to the fullest in this season of your life.