Use your gifts

Green Pastures By Pastor T. O. Banso

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At Joppa there was a certain disciple named Tabitha, which is translated Dorcas. This woman was full of good works and charitable deeds which she did. But it happened in those days that she became sick and died. When they had washed her, they laid her in an upper room. And since Lydda was near Joppa, and the disciples had heard that Peter was there, they sent two men to him, imploring him not to delay in coming to them. Then Peter arose and went with them. When he had come, they brought him to the upper room. And all the widows stood by him weeping, showing the tunics and garments which Dorcas had made while she was with them. But Peter put them all out, and knelt down and prayed. And turning to the body he said, 'Tabitha, arise.' And she opened her eyes, and when she saw Peter she sat up. Then he gave her his hand and lifted her up; and when he had called the saints and widows, he presented her alive." (Acts 9:36-41 NKJV)
In this passage of the Scripture, we see two believers using the different gifts God has given them. The first is Dorcas and the second is Peter. I want to talk about Dorcas first.
Dorcas had a special gift of compassion and giving which she used generously, and blessed the poor with especially the widows. That was a commendable act on her part. Just like Mary who anointed Jesus with the expensive alabaster oil, she did what she could do. (Mark 14:3-9) Mary couldn't prevent the religious leaders from killing Jesus. She couldn't even go to ask for his body to be buried (that was an assignment for someone else) but she could anoint his feet with that expensive oil. She gave what she had, and Heaven gave her an eternal reward, which includes the mention of her good deed till today even in this message.
Back to Dorcas! There was no record that Dorcas laid hands on the sick to heal them; she didn't raise the dead. She didn't organize any crusade. But she did what she could do - she used her gift of generosity; she blessed the poor.
Dorcas was not a believer in words alone but also in deeds. She acted out her faith in God by showing the love of God to the less privileged. "In the same way, let your good deeds shine out for all to see, so that everyone will praise your heavenly Father." (Matt 5:16 NLT) Her faith wasn't a dead faith; it was a living faith. James 2:20 says, "Fool! When will you ever learn that faith that does not result in good deeds is useless?" (NLT) Verse 26 adds, "Just as the body is dead without a spirit, so also faith is dead without good deeds." (NLT)
Dorcas wasn't a fool! She possessed the wisdom of God which embodied among others mercy and good deeds. James 3:17 says, "But the wisdom that comes from heaven is first of all pure. It is also peace loving, gentle at all times, and willing to yield to others. It is full of mercy and good deeds." (NLT)
Heaven noted Dorcas' good deeds just as Heaven noted the generosity of Cornelius in Acts 10 and orchestrated his salvation and that of his household. Cornelius' generosity was rewarded by Heaven.
2 Thess 3:13 says, "But as for you, brethren, do not grow weary in doing good." (NKJV) Dorcas didn't give up doing good deeds till she gave up the ghost. She lived out Gal 6:9: "And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not." (KJV) Dorcas used her God given gift.
The second person in Acts 9:36-41 I want to talk about is Peter. He was in Lydda, and was sent for to come to Joppa after the death of Dorcas. Putting outside all the widows who were crying over the death of their benefactor, Peter knelt down and prayed and Dorcas was raised back to life, and presented alive to the saints and widows. Here we see Peter using his own God given gift -the gift of special faith and working of miracles.
The Body of Christ
God hasn't given all Christians and ministers the same gifts but different gifts. We are to use the gifts He has given us. (1 Cor 12:4- 11) The Bible compares the church (the body of Christ) to the human body with many parts performing different functions. The make-up and location of each part is determined by the functions it is supposed to perform. Every part is useful and no part can perform all functions - each can only do that which it's given to do. All the parts cooperate and work harmoniously. And gifts are to be used to bless others not for selfish use. (1 Cor 12:12-31)
Rom 12 also talks about the different gifts that God has given believers in the body of Christ to use. These gifts are not the same, and believers are called upon to use whatever gift God has given them.
Identify your gift and use it
Peter was able to identify his place in the body of Christ. He knew his part and used the gift that God had given him. He didn't play the same role that Dorcas played, and vice versa. Each was able to identify his or her place and function there. That is what God expects you to do. Have you identified your gift? If you have, use it. Your gift may be different from that of another person but there is no one who has not been given a gift. The problem is always about using it. Jesus illustrated this in the parable of the talents (money) in Matt 25:14-30 where one of the servants was condemned for not using the talent given him.
Paul told Timothy, his protégé in the ministry, "Do not neglect the gift that is in you, which was given to you by prophecy with the laying on of the hands of the eldership." (1 Tim 4:14 NKJV)
Peter didn't neglect his gift. He identified it and used it. Like he said to the man at the Beautiful Gate who was born lame from his mother's womb, "Silver and gold I do not have, but what I do have I give you: In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, rise up and walk." (Acts 3:6 NKJV) One can say Dorcas had silver and gold, which she used generously to provide for the poor and the widows while Peter had the gift of special faith which he also used and led to Dorcas' restoration to life.
No gift is inferior to the other. Don't be envious of others because of their gifts while you neglect your gift. Use your gift according to the ability that God has given you. "God has given each of you special abilities, be sure to use them to help each other, passing to others God's many kinds of blessings." (1 Peter 4:10 TLB) Use your gifts in church, at work, at home and everywhere possible to the glory of God and to bless humanity.
TAKE ACTION!
If you are not born again, kindly say this prayer now: "0 Lord God, I come unto you today. I know I am a sinner and I cannot save myself. I believe that Jesus is the Son of God who died on the cross to save me and resurrected the third day. I confess Jesus as my Lord and Saviour and surrender my life to him today. I invite Jesus into my heart today. By this prayer, I know I am saved. Thank you Jesus for saving me and making me a child of God"
I believe you have said this prayer from your heart. Congratulations! You will need to join a Bible believing, Bible teaching church in your area where you will be taught how to live your new life in Christ Jesus. I pray that you flourish like the palm tree and grow like the cedar of Lebanon. May you grow into Christ in all things becoming all God wants you to be.