What Have You Been Given?

22 Oct

Grace was given to each of us
according to the measure of Christ’s gift.  (Eph 4:7)

I love this time of year.  Halloween approaches.  And, with it, I pull out and watch “It’s the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown!”

That’s a wonderful television special with Charlie Brown and the whole gang as they deal with Linus’ belief in the Great Pumpkin.  In the special, we see the kids going trick-or-treating.  House after house they receive treats.  House after house they recount what they received.  Some got apples.  Some got candy.

Charlie Brown?  All he could say, house after house, was, “I got a rock.”

You have to feel sorry for the poor kid.  There are many times that we adopt that same attitude.  We look at the blessings given to other people and we think to ourselves, “I’ve got nothing.”  Like Charlie Brown, we want to say, “I got a rock.”

You know what?  We did.  We got a rock.  Christ is the sure rock, the very foundation of our faith.  And He gives us gifts according to our ability and need.

Do not focus on what others have.  Look to what you have been given.

FAITH ACTION:  After you identify your gift, ask yourself if you are using what God has given to you for the benefit of others.  If you are not doing so completely, make a plan to share more of your gift with others.