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USE WHAT YOU HAVE!
(I Cor. 12:4-6,11; Rom. 12:6-8)
(Delivered 9-29-02)

A famous violinist walked out on the stage to start a concert.
The house was full; the people had paid high prices for tickets.
Then, just as he started to play his opening number, a string
broke. He kept right on playing with only three strings. At
the close the applause called him back again and again. Many
never knew he had played the entire concert under a handicap.
The ones who did know admired his performance all the more.

All of us play with a handicap. There is not a person in the
world who has everything. Life is just not made that way. Some
people may have more money or education or influence or talents
than we do; but that's no excuse to do less than our best. Each
of us must live and serve and achieve with what we have?

When David volunteered to fight Goliath, he refused the King's
armor and sword. After David fastened on his sword over the
tunic and tried walking around, he said, " 'I cannot go in
these, because I am not used to them.' So he took them off" (I
Sam. 17:39).

Instead, he chose weapons he was familiar with: a slingshot and
some rocks. He used what he had. God wants us to use what we
have.

When God called Moses to lead the Children of Israel out of
Egypt, he hesitated because he was not a good speaker. "Then
the LORD said to him, "What is that in your hand?" "A staff," he
replied" (Exo. 4:2).

Later Moses used that staff to confound Pharaoh with wondrous
works. He used what he had. God wants us to use what we have.

When the hungry crowd came to Jesus, the disciples said, "How
can we feed all these people? Jesus didn't say, "I'll create
some food from these stones; or we'll wait for manna to fall
from heaven. Instead, he asked, "How many loaves do you have? .
. . They said, 'Five-and two fish' " (Mark 6:38).

Jesus used those loaves and fish to satisfy hunger. He used
what he had. God wants us to use what we have.

Everyone has something-some resource; some strength; some
ability; some skill; some special insight. We must use what we
have!

It's a sin to hide our light and refuse to minister. Jesus
said, "Let your light shine before men, that they may see your
good deeds and praise your Father in heaven" (Matt. 5:16).

We will be held accountable for our failure to serve. Solomon
said, "Do not withhold good from those to whom it is due, When
it is in your power to do it." (Prov. 3:27).

Peter said, "Each one should use whatever gift he has received
to serve others faithfully . . ." (I Peter 4:10).

Paul said, "For we are God's fellow workers . . ." (I Cor. 3:9)

James said, "Anyone, who knows the good he ought to do and
doesn't do it sins" (James 4:17).

It's not how much we have that matters. It's how much we use.
A person could have a billion dollars in the bank, but if he
never writes a check he can die of starvation. In the Bible the
Rich Young Ruler probably had a lot more resources and abilities
than poor old Simon Peter. We know he had more money and
education; but he did absolutely nothing with them. So Peter
was more productive than he was.

Are you using what you have?

Once a construction supervisor noticed that his laborers were
wasting a lot of time. Near the end of the day, he approached
the group, pulled a fifty-dollar bill out of his pocket, took a
match and burned the money in front of them. Then he said,
"Men, this is what your standing around today has cost me."

Now, this may be a shocking demonstration; but when you waste
your time and energy; when you waste your talents and skills,
you are wasting your life and that's much worse than wasting
your money.

Are you using what you have?

You may say, "Well, I'm just trying to survive"; or, "I have to
pay my bills." But Jesus said, "Is not life more important than
food, and the body more important than clothes? But seek first
his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be
given to you as well" (Matt. 6:25,33).

As Christians, we are responsible for discovering and using the
gifts God has given us. We will be held accountable for our
failures. So, what do we have?

I. FIRST, WE HAVE PHYSICAL RESOURCES.
These include money, property and material possessions. How do
we use these gifts? Are we cautious or wasteful? Do we live
simply or extravagantly? Are we selfish or generous?

Physical resources don't have to be million dollar donations to
churches or charitable organizations. Physical resources can
mean pies and casseroles for a bereaved family. They can mean
afghans for new babies, or scrapbooks given to graduates.

II. NEXT, WE HAVE NATURAL ABILITIES.

These include aptitudes, talents and skills. How do we use
these gifts? Are we wise or foolish? Do we go with our
strengths and fill important needs? Have we developed our
abilities with education and training?

Natural abilities require even less material investments. In
fact, they usually require no money at all. They include
smiles, kind words and compliments. They may be sharing a
musical or artistic skill. They may be tutoring a child or
helping someone fill out an application form.

III. FINALLY, WE HAVE TIME.

Now, everyone has different amounts of resources and abilities;
but we all have the same 24 hours in a day. Our stewardship of
time includes thought, organization and delegation. Do we plan
ahead, or just let things happen? Are we efficient and orderly,
or unprepared and chaotic? Do we influence others to cooperate
and help, or do we try to do everything alone?

Someone calculated an average seventy-year life would break down
like this:

3 years spent in education; 3 years in reading; 3 years in rest
and recovery; 4 years talking; 5 years traveling; 6 years
eating; 8 years in amusements; 14 years working; and 24 years
sleeping.

There is so much to be done. Jesus said, "The harvest is
plentiful, but the workers are few . . ." (Luke 10:2).

A headline today could still read: "Wanted: Laborers For
Christ's Harvest!" In fact, there's a need for all kinds of
laborers. Fortunately, every church has these secret servants.
There are those individuals who call and express concern to the
absentees. There are families who provide transportation for
those who otherwise could not worship with us; There are those
who prepare the Lord's Supper; There are those who visit the
shut-ins and take food to the sick and bereaved; There are those
who are called in last-minute emergencies, and calmly say, "I'll
do the best I can"; There are those who give words of
encouragement or appreciation to the leaders and teachers whose
jobs are more obvious.

Many other categories of nameless people could be added to this
list. We see the benefits, but not the benefactors. There are
a lot of "unsung heros." There are a lot of "behind the scene
servants." Someone asked an interesting question. Who taught
David to use that sling? Such skill does not come easily or
without effort. You don't just go out one day and become "David
the giant killer." No! Someone taught that boy how to use a
sling, and whoever did it is to be commended. They gave this
young man a sense of feeling needed and the confidence to face
life's problems. That knowledge strengthened a whole nation and
enabled an army of soldiers to move forward with faith.

Christ said, 'The kingdom of heaven is like yeast that a woman
took and mixed into a large amount of flour until it worked all
through the dough.' " (Matt. 13:33).

We don't see the leaven, but its positive influence is great.
It's the same with you and your small contributions.

In using our gifts, we must be specific. Just saying, "I'm
going to start doing good deeds" won't get the job done. Decide
on specific things you can do and then do them. Some people
send cards to the sick and bereaved. One man decided to call
every person who visited church for the first time. It was a
simple strategy for touching people's lives. This man wasn't
especially "gifted"; and his ministry wasn't complicated; but
lives were changed. One widow had a tradition of inviting every
family of the church to her home every year. She was less able
to do this than many others. Genius isn't required. We can
call, visit, share food, clean for the sick, encourage with
praise or shop for shut-ins. The opportunities are endless.

One woman said, "When I was only 8, I wanted to serve. The
church bulletins needed folding, so my sister and I volunteered.
We felt a real responsibility. Without us, the congregation
wouldn't have the song numbers or the announcements. So at an
early age, I realized I could have a part in the church. "The
harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few . . ." (Luke 10:2).

In the courtyard of a little church in France there stood a
beautiful marble statue of Jesus with outstretched hands. One
day, during World War II, a bomb damaged the statue. After the
battle, the citizens of the village gathered up the pieces of
their beloved statue and tried to reconstruct it. Patiently
they reassembled the broken body. But there was one problem.
They never found the hands of the statue.

"A Christ without hands is no Christ at all," someone lamented.
We need a new statue."

Then, someone else came up with another idea. They attached a
brass plaque to the base of the statue which read, "I have no
hands but your hands."

Years later, someone saw that inscription and wrote these lines:

I have no hands but your hands to do my work today.
I have no feet but your feet to lead men on the way.
I have no tongue but your tongue to tell me how I died.
I have no help but your help to bring men to God's side.

Are you helping? Are you doing all you can? Are you using what
you have?

***
(Word Count 1733)

These messages are from an unpublished manuscript © copyrighted
by Miles and Maralene Wesner, Idabel, OK. Please use them in
any way you think appropriate. The only thing we ask is that
you give credit for original material in published works.

My ministry has been blessed immeasurably by reading other
people's sermons. When I started preaching 55 years ago, I
waited for "inspiration" before I began my sermon preparation
(usually Saturday night, about midnight). Then, I discovered it
wasn't inspiration at all-it was sheer PANIC. I would have
welcomed this service.

Comments are always welcome. (Please indicate if you do not want
your comments to appear in New Perspectives).

Miles E. Wesner