A Gift for the Glory of God

But those who desire to be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and harmful lusts which drown men in destruction and perdition.

1 Timothy 6:9 (NKJV)

Every person who comes to Christ is endowed with a spiritual gift—a gift entrusted to them by the Holy Spirit to fulfill God's will among those to whom they are sent. The gift bestowed upon certain individuals is intended for the edification of the Church; it finds expression through worship, teaching, preaching, encouragement, and various other means cited in the Bible. We see Paul, on several occasions, exhorting believers and correcting the errors committed by many who use their gifts—or even their natural talents—to earn a little money. They tell themselves that, as long as people believe in them, they might as well take advantage of the situation.

In truth, Paul does not reject the idea that a person may be blessed for having invested themselves in ministry—that is, that they may receive a sum of money in recognition of their efforts. However, he rejects the attitude of those who exploit the situation, seeing in their ministry nothing more than a means to accumulate ever-greater wealth. This is where the trouble begins: the more you possess, the more your thirst grows. You become vulnerable to the attacks of Satan, who regards you as his prey. You sink into arrogance, develop a negative attitude toward others, and harbor foolish desires—desires whose consequences you do not even bother to consider. It is at this stage that Paul warns us that we will ultimately plunge ourselves into ruin and destruction.

I would like to remind you of one thing: God always provides for the needs of those who place their trust in Him and who give themselves entirely to His service. If He has called you, it is because He has a specific plan for your life. You can place yourself completely in His hands. Even if things do not unfold exactly as you might have wished—believe it or not—He remains in control. Do not seek to use what He has given you as a tool to extract anything from others. As Paul says: you entered this world with nothing, and with nothing you will depart from it; therefore, put the gifts of the Spirit to use to draw others toward God and to encourage them. For the more your gift serves others, the more God will shower you with all manner of blessings—both spiritual and material—for His glory alone.

May the grace and peace of God be with you.