Ephesians 4:11-12
“And He Himself gave
some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, and some pastors and
teachers, for the equipping of the saints for the work of ministry, for the
edifying of the body of Christ.”
In 2009 I retired from Haggai Institute. It had been my life
for 20 years. My time there had been fruitful and blessed. The organization had
dealt with me extremely well, practically pampering me. Dr. John Haggai had
been an exemplary boss to work with and Haggai Institute and exemplary
organization to work in. I had the sense of satisfaction that God had used me
and my life had been worthwhile.
Many asked me if would not miss working for the organization
that had been my life for 20 years and had made me what I am not only spiritually
but in my knowledge, personality and overall growth as an individual. Oddly I
did not, and that made me concerned, but not unduly.
After a year of my retired life I found that this ‘retired’
phase was now the happiest part of my life, and that made me wonder whether I
was just lazy and undisciplined and so enjoying the freedom or was it something
deeper. I slowly began to realize that I was happier because I was now doing
what I enjoyed which was teaching and that too Bible teaching. I was involved
in weekly theological classes, fortnightly bible studies, Sunday school,
one-to-one counselling and mentoring, things I could never do while in Haggai
Institute.
Was my time spent in Haggai Institute wrong? No!
Emphatically No! For one I could not teach with the authority that I do now if
it was not for my experience in Haggai Institute. My calling was Haggai
Institute but my gifting was teaching. Though I had taught the distinction
between calling and gifting for some time before retiring from Haggai
Institute, the difference hit me with a bang now.
We use our gifting wherever we have an opportunity, just as
I taught whenever I could in Haggai Institute and used my teaching gifts in
vision creation in volunteers and donors. But my calling was to serve Haggai
Institute in whatever responsibilities they gave me.
Our call is to serve the community among whom we are
placed. The local church, the organization we work with, the community we live
in. This is quite distinct from the gifting I may have.
In Acts 6 Stephen had the gift of signs and wonders and of
teaching but served the church in looking after the orphans and the widows. He
continued to use his gifts as opportunities arose, and probably did many signs
and wonders among the orphans and widows.
In Ephesians 4:11-12, verse 11 is the gifting and the
position given to me and verse 12 is the call given to me. This is the same
concept Jesus makes in Matthew 20:25-28 where he says leadership is a position
and gifting given to me to do the calling of a servant to the people.
In Ephesians 4:11-12 the gifting is related to the call, but
often, especially the natural gifts I have (which are as important as the
spiritual gifts) may not all be used in all the areas of calling I have.
Today I serve the church we worship in, especially the young
people and also others in the church. In a way I am extremely busy so that my
use of the term ‘retired’ is seen as a joke in my community. I serve the
believers in my city with whatever responsibilities they give me. Since they
mostly ask me to teach, I had entered the happiest phase of my life, but if I
have to live my life again, I would spend my 20 years with Haggai Institute
again.
Prayer: Lord, help me
to be focused on ‘ministering to others’ and not so much on using MY gifts. I
believe that through this your power and strength would be glorified through me
and people will be blessed. I am at the most effective when I am where you
place me and not where I can use my GIFTS to the maximum, like Joseph was the
most effective as a slave and prisoner getting ready to be a governor. Amen
