Use it or lose it!
The great violinist, Nicollo Paganini, willed his marvellous violin to Genoa, the city of his birth, but only on condition that the instrument never be played.
It was an unfortunate decision, for it was made of a peculiarity of wood that as long as it is used and handled, it shows little wear. As soon as it is not used or discarded, it begins to decay.
It wasn’t long before the exquisite, mellow-toned violin became worm-eaten in its beautiful case, valueless except as a relic. How sad. You know it was never designed or made to sit in its case. It was created to be played and played regularly.
And so it is with us. The moldering, withering stringed instrument of Paganini is a sharp reminder that a life withdrawn from all service to God and others loses its meaning, loses its usefulness, and loses its purpose.
But not only does it stop being useful, it actually starts to wither, and disintegrates and falls apart.
Whether we accept it or not, each one of us has specific gifts/talents/ministries and if we don’t know what they are, and we don’t use them for his glory our life in God begins to wither, shrivel, stagnate, and there’s little progress in God.
So there’s the $64,000 question – are you using the gifts and talents God has given you, whatever they are?
One of the big issues we often find is many, many Christians compare themselves with others and struggle thinking that God really won’t use them when there are so many others who would do a better job than them (in their opinion). But this isn’t true. It’s a lie from the devil.
Others can’t believe God would want to use them because of certain things they’ve done or been in the past. They think their past has somehow disqualified them. This isn’t true either.
The reality is when you look through the scriptures it’s staggering who and what God does use to bring about His will and purposes.
So the next time you feel like God can’t use you, just remember:
NOAH was a drunk….
ABRAHAM was too old…
ISAAC was a daydreamer….
JACOB was a liar…
LEAH was ugly…
JOSEPH was abused…
MOSES had a problem with stuttering and stammering…
JABEZ had a bad start…
GIDEON was afraid…
SAMSON had long hair, and was a womaniser…
RAHAB was a prostitute…
JEREMIAH and TIMOTHY were too young…
DAVID had an affair and was a murderer…
ELIJAH was suicidal…
ISAIAH preached naked…
JONAH ran from God…
NAOMI was a widow…
JOB went bankrupt…
JOHN the Baptist ate bugs/insects…
PETER denied Christ…
The DISCIPLES fell asleep while praying… and then deserted Him
MARTHA worried about everything…
MARY MAGDALENE was supposedly demon possessed…
The SAMARITAN WOMAN was divorced….more than once!!
ZACCHEUS was too small…
PAUL was too religious…
TIMOTHY had an ulcer….
BALAM’S ass was just that!
And….
LAZARUS WAS DEAD!!!!
When we consider all the above, and the fact that God used every one of them, then our excuses pale into insignificance. So, no more excuses now. God’s waiting to use you to your full potential! The big question is, are you willing to let him use you in whichever way He desires.
With this in mind, here are three scriptures for you to contemplate and meditate on.
Matthew 5:14-16
“You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden. Nor do people light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a stand, and it gives light to all in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.”
Galatians 2:20
“I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me”.
Romans 15:17
“In Christ Jesus, then, I have reason to be proud of my work for God.”