'God hasn't called you to live in the shadow of others...'

by Ben Jones.

Thanks for checking out my first 4:12 devotion, I hope that you have a think about what’s been playing on my heart over the past couple of weeks and I pray that God really speaks and blesses you!

I’m sure most of you have heard the story of David and Goliath. It’s one of the most popular accounts in the Old Testament and was definitely my favorite as a child. 

You’re probably familiar with the heroic faith of the shepherd boy David, who defeated Israel’s largest enemy. Who came out of obscurity and by chance heard Goliath taunting the Israelites whilst taking food to his brothers on the front line and decided to take the fight to the Philistines.

There’s a part of this story that I want to highlight that you may not be so familiar with. I’m talking about one of the events that led up to this epic showdown:

1 Samuel 17: 38-40

King Saul, offered his own armor to David. This was a massive honour, but there was a major problem: David was only a teenage boy, and King Saul would have been a tall, impressive, physical man. Simply put, there was not a chance that Saul’s armor would fit David. It probably looked like a toddler trying to wear his Dad’s shoes. Even if had fit, David had never worn armor before. He wasn’t a soldier, he was a shepherd.

And as we know, David declined the armor and opted to use the humble weaponry of a shepherd—a staff and a sling, tools that he used day after day. We know what happened from there, God gave David a glorious victory!

So why am I highlighting Saul’s armor? We have a tendency to compare our talents with the talents of others. Especially as we’re growing up, trying to find out what we’re good at, what we like, in that process of defining our own identity. Constantly comparing ourselves with others.

Sometimes we obsess over the things we can’t do instead of improving on the things we can do. It’s as though we are saying, “God you made a mistake when you created me. You gave me the wrong talents.” I must tell you, this kind of attitude does not glorify God.

I love to sing, but I will never lead worship, it’s just not in my skill set. God has, however, given me other gifts. I went through a type of “audition” when I was still a teenager. When I was at university, I was given an opportunity to lead meetings and preach at the youth groups that I was apart of. 

At first, I was terrified of public speaking, but I sensed God wanted me to step out in faith and try it. They weren’t the best talks I had ever given, but they weren’t disasters either. 
No one went to sleep, no-one threw Bibles at me, and no one accused me of preaching heresy. The feedback, in fact, was quite encouraging. 

Since then, God has continued to expand my own preaching/speaking ministry. Do I have great speaking skills? Maybe not, though I’m always trying to improve. Are there preachers/speakers who are more gifted than I? Definitely, but that’s OK, I just want people to be blessed and touched by God when I speak. 

OK, so some #Godthoughts.

Do you frequently compare yourself to others? Are you constantly trying to wear someone else’s armor? Follow the example of David: offer your gifts/talents to God, and EXPECT him to use them as only He can. 

“Each one should use whatever gift he has received to serve others, faithfully administering God’s grace in its various forms. If anyone speaks, he should do it as one speaking the very words of God. If anyone serves, he should do it with the strength God provides, so that in all things God may be praised through Jesus Christ. To him be the glory and the power for ever and ever. Amen.” 1 Peter 4:10-11 

“Now there are varieties of gifts, but the same Spirit; and there are varieties of service, but the same Lord; and there are varieties of activities, but it is the same God who empowers them all in everyone.” 1 Corinthians 12:4-6

Be careful in comparing yourselves with others, it only leads down a path of disappointment. God hasn’t called you to live in the shadow of others but has called you, with all your God-given talents, traits and experiences to become more and more like His Son. 

Some of you will remember Bill Wilson from Holding Nothing Back: 

‘...If you don’t have it, you don’t need it!’