Numbers 11:26-29; 1 Corinthians 12:7

Every believer has been given gifts and talents from the Holy Spirit for the common good. But jealousy can be a real issue for us. Sometimes we look over and desire to be as good as someone at something, or to have the same God-given gift. Sometimes, like Joshua’s frame of mind, we want someone, or ourselves, to be the only one with a certain ability. We get jealous when someone else is good at it, too. But this way of thinking is wrong; in fact, it is evil. God has given people the ability to do things for His glory. When we start to get jealous, whether because we want to do it too, or because we want to be the one and only at it, we want ourselves to be glorified. This is pride. However, in reality, we are glorifying the person we are jealous of. All this is wrong because it should only be God getting the glory for the gifts and abilities that are being demonstrated by any person. 

Or perhaps, we take what God has given us and think we need to prove ourselves. We have a chip on our shoulder, thinking that we need to do this all on our own, or we are nothing. Again, this is a sinful thought pattern. As 1 Corinthians 12:7 points out, we are given the gifts for the common good. Is it good to take from God and try to do it without God and without God’s people? Is it good to try to do everything completely on our own, instead of raising up others to grow in their abilities? Most certainly, it is not good. By this, we refuse God’s gift of the body of Christ and seek our own glory by trying to prove ourselves. But again, we have been given these gifts for the glory of our God. Not ourselves. 

As you walk your path in life, reflect on your attitude towards others who are serving God. You may not feel like a leader, but the simple fact is that if you are a believer, you are leading in the way you set the example of following Jesus. Are you going to cheer others on as they explore and grow in their God given abilities? Will you give God praise over the wonderful things He does for and through us? Or are you going to allow jealousy or a chip on your shoulder to dictate how you react and who you glorify? Remember that we are all given these wonderful, God-given talents for the common good of others and to glorify Jesus. Jealousy and a something-to-prove attitude are a choice. And so is glorifying God. 

1. What do you most often think and feel when observing other people’s God-given abilities?
2. What are your God-given talents? If you don’t know, what are some ways you can explore and find out what God has gifted you with? 
3. What would it look like if you used God’s gifts for yourself? What would it look like if you used God’s gifts for God? How do they compare? 

Write a message of encouragement to someone who is using their gifts for God. Remember, they don’t need to be serving in the church for this. Tell them something the Lord has done through them, don’t praise them for what they have done, so it doesn’t feel like they are being glorified, but how God used their gifts and service for His purposes.

Lord, thank You for being kind to us. Thank You for giving us the great honor of having talents and serving You. Please help me to see the good these spiritual gifts provide, and not grow jealous, but rather help me to be grateful for what we all have. Help me to know and discover more of what You want me to do and allow me to do it. Thank You, my Lord. Amen.