“Then the word of the LORD came unto me, saying, Before I formed thee in the belly I knew thee; and before thou camest forth out of the womb I sanctified thee, and I ordained thee a prophet unto the nations.” – Jeremiah 1:4-5 KJV

As can be seen, God was specifically addressing Jeremiah here. But could it be possible that there’s a message in this that applies to us too? If so, what could it be? Well, it’s obvious that since God knew who Jeremiah was before he existed and created him for a purpose, then that means He must have known us before we existed and created us for a purpose too. But what purpose were we created for and are we really fulfilling it?

Some object to the idea of being created to serve God on grounds that they believe we were created to enjoy His presence. But can’t these two ideas be in agreement with one another? After all, one can no more serve God without enjoying His presence than they could enjoy His presence without serving Him. In other words, you can’t enjoy God’s presence without serving Him. You see, we weren’t created by God to be lifeless puppets; rather, we were brought into existence to be blessed and to be a blessing and to enjoy life and to give praise to our Creator every step of the way. Thus, godly service isn’t about carrying out menial tasks that have a religious bent to them. It’s an expression of love. And just as Jeremiah was called to serve God, each one who belongs to the body of Christ has a calling too; that is, to edify and build up the Church through the service of love. Hence serving God and enjoying Him at the same time.

Listen, not all are called to do the type of work that Jeremiah was destined for, but each one of us has a gift nonetheless. And because each one of us has a gift that means each member of the body has an important part to play in edifying and building up the Church. Of course, some have more responsibilities than others, but all are important in God’s eyes.

Having said that, I don’t know what your gift is, as that’s between you and God. However, I will tell you this: if you aren’t using the gift that God has given you to His glory then you are not being faithful to God. To further emphasize the point that I’m trying to bring to light here please read the following parable, told by Jesus.

“the kingdom of heaven is as a man travelling into a far country, who called his own servants, and delivered unto them his goods. And unto one he gave five talents, to another two, and to another one; to every man according to his several ability; and straightway took his journey. Then he that had received the five talents went and traded with the same, and made them other five talents. And likewise he that had received two, he also gained other two. But he that had received one went and digged in the earth, and hid his lord’s money.

After a long time the lord of those servants cometh, and reckoneth with them. And so he that had received five talents came and brought other five talents, saying, Lord, thou deliveredst unto me five talents: behold, I have gained beside them five talents more. His lord said unto him, Well done, thou good and faithful servant: thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord. He also that had received two talents came and said, Lord, thou deliveredst unto me two talents: behold, I have gained two other talents beside them. His lord said unto him, Well done, good and faithful servant; thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord.

Then he which had received the one talent came and said, Lord, I knew thee that thou art an hard man, reaping where thou hast not sown, and gathering where thou hast not strawed: And I was afraid, and went and hid thy talent in the earth: lo, there thou hast that is thine. His lord answered and said unto him, Thou wicked and slothful servant, thou knewest that I reap where I sowed not, and gather where I have not strawed: Thou oughtest therefore to have put my money to the exchangers, and then at my coming I should have received mine own with usury. Take therefore the talent from him, and give it unto him which hath ten talents. For unto every one that hath shall be given, and he shall have abundance: but from him that hath not shall be taken away even that which he hath. And cast ye the unprofitable servant into outer darkness: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.

When the Son of man shall come in his glory, and all the holy angels with him, then shall he sit upon the throne of his glory: And before him shall be gathered all nations: and he shall separate them one from another, as a shepherd divideth his sheep from the goats: And he shall set the sheep on his right hand, but the goats on the left. Then shall the King say unto them on his right hand, Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world: For I was an hungred, and ye gave me meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me drink: I was a stranger, and ye took me in: Naked, and ye clothed me: I was sick, and ye visited me: I was in prison, and ye came unto me.

Then shall the righteous answer him, saying, Lord, when saw we thee an hungred, and fed thee? or thirsty, and gave thee drink? When saw we thee a stranger, and took thee in? or naked, and clothed thee? Or when saw we thee sick, or in prison, and came unto thee? And the King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me. Then shall he say also unto them on the left hand, Depart from me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels: For I was an hungred, and ye gave me no meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me no drink: I was a stranger, and ye took me not in: naked, and ye clothed me not: sick, and in prison, and ye visited me not.

Then shall they also answer him, saying, Lord, when saw we thee an hungred, or athirst, or a stranger, or naked, or sick, or in prison, and did not minister unto thee? Then shall he answer them, saying, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye did it not to one of the least of these, ye did it not to me. And these shall go away into everlasting punishment: but the righteous into life eternal.” – Matthew 25:14-46 KJV

Indeed, Jesus made it very clear that serving God is not about hoarding His blessings, but about sharing them in the spirit of Love.

“Ye are the salt of the earth: but if the salt have lost his savour, wherewith shall it be salted? it is thenceforth good for nothing, but to be cast out, and to be trodden under foot of men. Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid. Neither do men light a candle, and put it under a bushel, but on a candlestick; and it giveth light unto all that are in the house. Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.” – Matthew 5:13-16 KJV

Jesus gave you everything when He poured out His life for you. Is it too much to ask that you give your life to His service? What are you doing to show that you are really walking with Him? Are you using the gift that has been given to you to serve Him or have you placed it under a basket, so to speak? Are you really being faithful to the One whom you claim to believe in?

By the way, God doesn’t give such gifts so that they may only be used once. They are meant to be shared for as long as there’s a Church that needs to be built up and edified. So, what are you doing with God’s gift? Are you using your time to be all that God has called you to be in Christ, or are you wasting it away on self serving pursuits? Do you really love the people whom Jesus died for? If so, how far reaching is that love? What are you doing with that gift?

You can read more on the gifts of the Spirit and their purpose here: Romans 12; 1Corinthians 12; Ephesians 4:1-16