A few months ago our brother-in-law (married to one of JB’s sisters) stopped in for a few days during a cross-country trek. A retired Navy helicopter pilot and former aircraft carrier commanding officer, he now volunteers many hours building houses with Habitat for Humanity. Looking around our place he asked if we needed help with anything. He spotted issues with our aging back porch. Within a couple of days the guys had replaced two rotting joists and tightened railings with bolts, resulting in a much safer, sturdier porch!
This week JB’s brother, also on a cross-country trek from the east coast, stopped in for a few days. Besides spending decades doing complex mechanical engineering for large paper mills, he also ran his own kitchen and bath remodeling business for a few years. Looking around, he asked if we needed help with anything. His eyes rested on our kitchen outlets and he immediately noted they were not up to code! Within two days we had new outlets, new light switches, and some cool under-counter lights strung in our kitchen, as well as a hole in our basement ceiling repaired!
These gifted brothers-in-law blessed my socks off!
And suddenly I realized something. We rarely think about this, but Jesus was a carpenter. And those gifted with such practical, hands-on abilities usually have servants hearts. That’s exactly what I experienced during these two visits–selfless individuals who truly enjoy helping others.
In His professional life, Jesus probably constructed houses, built furniture, and/or repaired things. He used his physical gifts to help others. And when the time came for His spiritual anointing, He blessed people with spiritual gifts: healing the sick, multiplying food to feed the hungry, raising the dead.
Whether during the first century or the twenty-first, people around the world have both physical and spiritual needs. And we’re instructed (and gifted in some form or fashion) to meet them. JB imagines God took all of the gifts society needs to function and cast them like seed across the globe so every job gets done and every need is met.
Similarly, Paul explains that God scatters spiritual gifts among believers all over the world. But to each one is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good (I Corinthians 12:7). He then lists such helpful gifts as words of wisdom, words of knowledge, the gift of faith, gifts of healings, etc. In this way God empowers believers to bless others supernaturally.
But a problem arises when we compare ourselves. We may erroneously conclude that other believers are more important, or we envy the attention they receive using the gifts God has given them. Recognizing this as a universal problem, Paul goes on to tell believers to stop comparing because it only leads to division (verses 14-30). Then he hints at the perfect solution: But earnestly desire the greater gifts (verse 31). And in the next chapter Paul describes the greatest gift of all: Love!
With love as our motivation, rather than comparing ourselves, we’ll freely use our gifts, whether physical or spiritual, to bless others. And that’s when we look most like Jesus!
