Ortberg tells the story of his mother being offered some blue dishes by his grandfather. After his grandmother’s death, his grandfather was going through her things in the attic and found some dishes. He was planning to take them to the Salvation Army when he thought of his daughter-in-law and her love of blue. She expected some run-of-the-mill dishes but when she opened the box, she saw exquisite china! He writes, “Each plate had been individually painted with a pattern of forget-me-nots. The cups were inlaid mother-of-pearl. The dishes and cups were rimmed with gold. The plates had been handcrafted in a Bavarian factory that was destroyed during the Second World War, so they were literally irreplaceable.” The story goes on to reveal that her own husband and son had never seen the china and didn’t even know of its existence! They found some older family members who told them how she came to own this china. When she was young, she began receiving this china one piece at a time as gifts because her family was poor and the china was very expensive. But because of her fear that this beautiful china might get broken, she always wrapped each piece very carefully and put it in a box for safekeeping. She was saving it for a very special occasion but that very special occasion never came. Her fear of it getting broken meant that it was never used.
How many times do we find ourselves having something that is very special to us but we don’t use it? Maybe it’s our own china or a beautiful dress. What about the gifts God has gifted us with? I Corinthians 12:4-11 reads, “There are diversities of gifts, but the same Spirit. There are differences of ministries, but the same Lord. And there are diversities of activities, but it is the same God who works all in all. But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to each one for the profit of all: for to one is given the word of wisdom through the Spirit, to another the word of knowledge through the same Spirit, to another faith by the same Spirit to another gifts of healings by the same Spirit, to another the working of miracles, to another prophecy, to another discerning of spirits, to another different kinds of tongues, to another the interpretation of tongues. But one and the same Spirit works all these things, distributing to each one individually as He wills.” This scripture tells us we each have a gift that we should take out and use for the glory of God. Further down in the same chapter, it tells us that each one of us is needed to make the body of Christ whole because each one of us is a member of the body of Christ! Verses 28-31a says, “And God has appointed these in the church: first apostles, second prophets, third teachers, after that miracles, then gifts of healings, helps, administrations, varieties of tongues. Are all apostles? Are all prophets? Are all teachers? Are all workers of miracles? Do all have gifts of healings? Do all speak with tongues? Do all interpret? But earnestly desire the best gifts.”
If you know your gift(s) then use it! If you don’t, then take one of the many Spiritual gifts tests you can buy at Christian book stores or take one online.
