Excel

Even so you, since you are zealous for spiritual gifts, let it be for the edification of the church that you seek to excel.

1st Corinthians 14:12 NKJV

Unless we are born independently wealthy, most of us have to work at something to make a living. God laid out all sorts of guidelines for working. It was never His intention that any of us should be slackers. He gave each of us gifts and/or talents with which to make that living. However...

Often in our climb up the ladder, we forget some very important things, and the most important is this - If it wasn't for what God gave us, we would have nothing and no hope. He gave us ALL of our abilities, no matter what they are. A keen mind, a gift of hospitality or generosity, a gift of organization, service, singing, speaking, writing. The ability to be a friend. God will develop all that He has given us if we give it back to Him as a sacrifice of our lives. God wants us to be successful MORE than we want to be successful, but not for the same reason.

Deuteronomy 8:17-18 tells us,  If you start thinking to yourselves, "I did all this. And all by myself. I'm rich. It's all mine!"—well, think again. Remember that God, your God, gave you the strength to produce all this wealth so as to confirm the covenant that he promised to your ancestors—as it is today."  It's to establish and confirm the covenant. It's to edify the Body of Christ - the Church. He equipped us for His glory, to fulfill HIS purpose in us, through us, FOR us...for each other. It's our Promise for Today and every day -  Even so you, since you are zealous for spiritual gifts, let it be for the edification of the church that you seek to excel.

Prayer:

Father,

           For those gifts we recognize at work in us, and for the latent that lie waiting for You to make room for them in our lives, we pray Your blessing and increase so that we may excel in the edification of Your Church. In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen.