Admiring the Gifts

Admiring the Gifts

Well, shouldn’t we admire a splendid gift and the one who has it? Is it right and good to praise a very gifted person more than a less gifted person? Or a good speaker more than someone who is not a speaker? No, No! For has not the one and the same, the one true God created both of them and apportioned both their lots? Are His work and His way not perfect, or is one thing He has done good and the other thing bad, just as sinful people do???

The wise man says, “He who oppresses the poor reproaches his Maker . . . .” Prov. 14:31. For it is the Creator who let him be lowly. If anyone is to be blamed, it would have to be the One who has created and apportioned things the way He did.

Praising one gift more than another—the one talent more than another—is the result of unbelief and darkness. It is utter madness and ungodliness. What shall we praise? First, the Creator, then those who with the greatest faithfulness use the pound they have whether it seems to be more or less brilliant.

The gift by itself does not give its possessor true honor. Only the way in which he uses it justifies the honor and praise that pertains to him in truth and in all eternity and which the righteous Judge will give to every one in particular without being partial to people or to the gifts.

This is similar to Solomon’s word: “Charm is deceitful and beauty is vain, but a woman who fears the Lord, she shall be praised.” Prov. 31:30.

The fear of God is praiseworthy! Faithfulness is praiseworthy! However, one gift or one ministry is not any more praiseworthy than another.

Our sinful thoughts will protest against this, but we must reject our low thoughts and believe the truth.

The lesser members are just as necessary as the more prominent and excellent members, and—this is where we need wisdom—they shall be given the greatest honor.

It is blessed and good to be rid of one’s evil and ungodly thoughts that, in their folly, select something from God’s work and praise it more than something else. Thus one likes some members of the church more than others—because of their gifts. Thereby one announces one’s own folly and reproaches God.

“Behold, God is mighty, but despises no one . . . .” Job 36:5.