Your Talents - God's Plan

Exodus 25:10-11
¹⁰"They shall make an ark of acacia wood. Two cubits and a half shall be its length, a cubit and a half its breadth, and a cubit and a half its height. ¹¹You shall overlay it with pure gold, inside and outside shall you overlay it, and you shall make on it a molding of gold around it."

Most Christians identify ministry with a church (pastors and ministry directors) and/or organizations that address social ills (i.e. World Vision, Compassion International, etc.). However, the majority of Christians don't fill positions at churches or nonprofits. Many of them are jewelers, entrepreneurs, carpenters, musicians, landscapers, and bankers. How do their jobs serve the glory of God? And I'm not just talking about sharing the Gospel with co-workers, I'm talking about the work itself.

This passage from Exodus about the construction of the ark is a perfect example. Allow your imagination to conjure up the image of a Middle-Eastern man, I'll call him Michael. He is the most skilled goldsmith in Israel at the time Moses is leading the people. Once Moses gets the specs for the ark, he summons Michael to build it according to the description God has given. Michael pours all of his skill and effort into the ark because He understands that God's presence will sit on the mercy seat which He is fashioning.

Do you think Michael realized that God had been preparing him for this task well before he was ever aware? God had orchestrated all of Michael's tasks as a goldsmith to build up his skill so that he could build this ark which would symbolize God's holy presence among the people of Israel and would serve as preparation for humanity's Savior. Michael's ability to work with gold was an important element in God's plan to save the world.

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Question: do you feel like your skills and talents are worthless for ministry? Remember that God's plan is to use your talents for His glory. Be looking and searching for ways to bring God glory and to bless others. More importantly, know that you "are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them" (Eph. 2:10).

May God open many doors for you to use your talents to draw people to the Savior and to bring Him glory!

-Dustin