When Hard Work Isn’t Enough To Get The Job Done

  When Hard Work Isn’t Enough To Get The Job Done

I have a friend who works in the tech field; he is seemingly always enrolled in a new class on the latest technology. One day we were talking and I asked him, “Why do you take all these extra classes?” His answer surprised me. “God gave me a mind for this stuff and I want to use it to its fullest.” One of my buddies is in the medical field; he is consistently taking classes to enhance and learn his trade. I asked him why he spends all that money and all that energy in taking these extra classes when he is already so busy. His reply was, “there is too much at stake for me not to be my best.”

 

When Hard Work Isn’t Enough To Get The Job Done

I have a friend who works in the tech field; he is seemingly always enrolled in a new class on the latest technology. One day we were talking and I asked him, “Why do you take all these extra classes?” His answer surprised me. “God gave me a mind for this stuff and I want to use it to its fullest.” One of my buddies is in the medical field; he is consistently taking classes to enhance and learn his trade. I asked him why he spends all that money and all that energy in taking these extra classes when he is already so busy. His reply was, “there is too much at stake for me not to be my best.”

Paul wrote to Timothy, “…fan into flame the gift of God, which is in you…” This is a great example of two guys obeying this admonition from the Apostle Paul.  They are truly fanning to flame a gift God placed inside of them.  Christian leader, can I ask you this question?  Are you fanning to flame the gifts God placed in you?

I work with a lot of pastors and none of the pastors I know are lazy.  They work hard, sometimes too hard and their lives are busy, sometimes too busy.  Many hard working, busy pastors have something in common, they do not take the time necessary to fan to flame the gifts God placed inside of them. 

My first pastorate came right after 17 years of youth ministry.  I worked hard in youth ministry, shared Christ with countless students, wrote training manuals, developed internships, trained staff, raised money, spoke in churches and to other student groups and pretty much loved every second of it.  Then God interrupted my world with a call to church planting.  After some harsh words with God I relented and we started our first church. 

A few months in the magic touch I had in student ministry was not working.  I was giving my best talks, I was relating to people with all the tools and gifts I used in youth ministry but for some reason I was not finding the impact I had experienced in youth ministry.  One morning while fasting and praying I was whining to God about ministry.  I told him I knew he led me here and wondered why.  Why take me away from a life of impact for this? 

In my spirit I heard this verse, fan to flame the gifts I have given you. As I prayed more about this I looked over the list of gifts in scripture and realized something.  I had a gift of leadership and I had never once worked to develop it.  I honed my communication skills with classes, books and seminars.  I developed my other gifts with mentors, with studies and with focused attention on developing each gift except for leadership.  In youth ministry I could rely on other strengths that made up for not using this gift.  I could rely on humor, I could rely on charisma, I could rely on relational intelligence, I could rely on programming but I never had to fully develop this gift. 

My reaction was twofold.  I confessed.  I confessed to God the sin of letting myself ignore what he placed in me to do the work he called me to do.  I confessed relying upon my own strengths instead of the gifts he gave me.  Secondly, I learned.  I started seeking everything I could learn about leadership.  I read books, I studied characters in scripture, I found some mentors, I submitted myself to other leaders and I fanned as hard as I could. 

I close with this.  This past year I have asked one of my favorites leaders to help me keep growing in leadership.  I have taken a course in communication; I have read several books in both subjects and am seeking counsel in other areas where God has gifted me.  I am seeking input as to how my gifts overlap and strengthen each other.  In other words, I am fanning.  My worship pastor is an amazing artist.  He is a singer, songwriter, musician, and leader.  I found out recently he was taking voice lessons.  Not because he cannot sing but because he wants to use his gift to the fullest.  He is fanning.  Like my friends in the first paragraph, we must do our best with the gifts God gave us because there is too much at stake.  Are you fanning?

For discussion: What are you doing to fan to flame ALL the gifts God has given you?  When did you last make a list of your gifts and ask, how can I fan each one to full flame for the glory of God? 

About the author:  Leonard Lee a regular commenter here at MMI.  He is also a church planter and a veteran of over 25 years of ministry.  He is married to his best friend and they have two awesome kids.  He currently pastors Bayside of Central Roseville and loves to hunt, fish and play.