David was a warrior, a king, and a godly leader but one of the titles he was given is the "sweet psalmist of Israel". I always loved that title but it really made me think about this: God used more than just David's spiritual talents, He used everything David had.
When I look at David's life it wasn't like the man wasn't busy. He had quite a few wives to manage, many children, politics and controlling a nations armies but somehow he was always writing his psalms. It was almost as if writing the psalms opened David's mind and relieved some of the daily pressures wearing the crown gave him.
When I look at the church it is clear that God has given us spiritual gifts, He's given us teachers, pastors, evangelists and leaders, but didn't He also give us artists, decorators, builders, and cleaners? Sometimes we hide some of our gifts, thinking that maybe they aren't spiritual or maybe the church isn't the place for them, but I would challenge you not to do that.
When Peter visited the city of Lydda a woman named Dorcas had died. She was clearly influential in people's lives but look at the picture given of her: "All the widows stood around him, crying and showing him the robes and other clothing that Dorcas had made while she was still with them." She had made it her spiritual work not to teach, or to evangelize but to make clothes!
Maybe we can learn a little lesson from Dorcas and use some of our "other" talents for the good of the church. Do you have a talent or skill that's not being used? Go to the leaders of the church and let them know what it is. Use your talents to aid people, let your gifts glorify God.
Maybe you're a little like David, known for a strong spiritual gift, but don't forget that the other talents you use may be the ones that find a way to touch peoples hearts the most. After all the one thing we have left from David is not his armies, but his psalms.
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What a thought provoking post Brian!!! I was often raised around people in churches and especially Bible college that placed such a high importance on the role of pastoral ministry almost to the degree of degrading those who were not called to teach or preach or be supported by the church. I would ask, "How are those people in formal ministry being supported?" Is it not by the many talents and labors of God's people who have been gifted in many other areas? Don't get me wrong, the pastoral call is, I believe, the highest honor and should be taken very seriously but all of God's children are equipped for the work of the ministry and should not be made to feel any differently!
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