Chosen and filled to do God’s work

I love what God said about Bezalel in this passage.  He said,

I have chosen Bezalel…and I have filled him with the Spirit of God, with skill, ability, and knowledge…  (Exodus 31:2-3).

God had specifically chosen him to make things for the tabernacle and had also chosen other people to help him as well.

But not only did he choose him and tell him what to do, he filled him with his Spirit to give him the wisdom and strength he needed, and he gave him the skill, ability, and knowledge to do everything that needed to be done.

God says the same thing of all of us who follow him.

He has given us his Spirit, and his Spirit has imparted to us different gifts.

Paul wrote,

Now to each [Christian] the manifestation of the Spirit is given for the common good. (1 Corinthians 12:7)

He then lists a number of the gifts that God gives to us:  wisdom, knowledge, faith, healing, etc.

Then Paul says,

All these are the work of one and the same Spirit, and he gives them to each one, just as he determines. (1 Corinthians 12:11)

Three things should be noted here.

First, God gives each Christian gifts.

He doesn’t give only some Christians gifts, and leaves others without.  Each one has a gift.

Second, the gifts are not meant to serve yourself.  Rather, it’s for the common good.

In other words, we are meant to serve others with those gifts.

Third, each person has a different gift or gifts, and they’re given out as the Spirit decides.

Don’t worry about the gifts you haven’t been given.

Don’t be jealous about what gifts others have been given.

God in his wisdom gave you the gifts you have, so be content with them and use them.

I’m not saying that we shouldn’t pray for more spiritual gifts.  I think God is always happy to hear our requests, and he may indeed grant your requests.

But if God chooses not to give you a gift that someone else has, don’t waste your time living in jealousy of others.  Serve with what gifts God has given you.

The question we need to be asking ourselves is what are we doing with what God has given us?

Just as God gave Bezalel a task to accomplish, God has given you a task to accomplish.

Just as God filled Belalel with his Spirit, he has filled you with that same Spirit.

Just as God gave him all the skill, ability, and knowledge he needed to do God’s work, so he has given all these things to you.

Are you using what God has given you?

You may have gifts in music.  You may have gifts in teaching.  You may have gifts in encouraging.  You may have gifts in hospitality.

Whatever your gift may be, God says we are to use it.  He said,

If a man’s gift is prophesying, let him use it in proportion to his faith.

If it is serving, let him serve; if it is teaching, let him teach; if it is encouraging, let him encourage; if it is contributing to the needs of others, let him give generously; if it is leadership, let him govern diligently; if it is showing mercy, let him do it cheerfully.  (Romans 12:6-8)

God has chosen you.  He has filled you with his Spirit.  He has given you all the things you need to do his work.

So as the Psalmist wrote, let us “serve the Lord with gladness.” (Psalm 100:2, NASB)