Teamwork

Exodus 31

I’ve always loved sports. I had the privilege of playing soccer and basketball in college. After I graduated, I coached both sports for a couple of years at the local high school. To be honest, I was better at giving “Win one for the Gipper” halftime speeches than the actual “X’s and O’s”. Which basically meant we won a few and lost a lot.

However, it doesn’t take a great coach to understand how important teamwork is for success. Everyone needs to know their role on the team. In basketball, it’s not wise for your 5’8” point guard to post up down low all game. In football, you don’t want your 350 lb. offensive lineman taking snaps at quarterback. Everyone has strengths, and the goal as a coach, is to utilize those strengths to better the team.

The Bible talks about the importance of each person using their strengths on “God’s team” to advance the Kingdom of God. In 1 Corinthians 12, Paul talks about the importance of each Christ follower using their spiritual gifts to serve others in the church. A spiritual gift is a divine enablement for an area of service given to a believer, most likely at the time of their salvation. It’s a particular area of service where you will be most fruitful in.

In 1 Corinthians 12:18-20 Paul wrote, “But as it is, God arranged the members in the body, each one of them, as he chose. If all were a single member, where would the body be? As it is, there are many parts, yet one body.”

In other words, in any church body, “many parts” are needed for an effective church. Not all will be gifted teachers and not all will be gifted in leadership, just to name a few. And this principle goes beyond just spiritual gifts. God uses a variety of abilities, personalities, and experiences, as well.

Reading the first half of Exodus 31 had me thinking about these instructions from Paul. There were individuals in the camp who were gifted with their hands. And God told Moses, “I have given to all able men ability, that they may make all that I have commanded you” (v. 6). Bezalel and Oholiab probably never thought their craftsmanship would be used by God to create a holy tabernacle for the Lord.

Do not underestimate how God might want to use your skills, passions, experiences and spiritual gifts for kingdom impact. Paul would go on to write in Ephesians 2:10, “For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.”

Notice the word “beforehand.” God designed you in your mother’s womb in a certain way (Psalm 139:13), so that you could effectively serve Him with your life. How incredibly encouraging is that? Are you using the gifts and abilities God’s given you to help serve others and point them to Jesus? You are gifted! Use them for God’s glory!