‘Instructions need not Apply’

‘Giftings’ . . . we all claim to have them. Most of us actually WANT them, although I know a few who have grown weary because of them.

Gifting – (one of the definitions) - A talent, endowment, aptitude, or inclination.

Talent – (one def.) a power of mind or body considered as given to a person for use and improvement: so called from the parable in Matt. 25:14–30.
Endowment- (one def.) an attribute of mind or body; a gift of nature
Aptitude – (one def.) readiness or quickness in learning; intelligence
Inclination – (one def.) a disposition or bent, esp. of the mind or will; a liking or preference.

Wow – never took the time to look into this definition until now. I could go on a rant with just this definition alone. It amazes me how so many of us never take the time to really SEE the way something is presented. The WAY something is presented is most times an indication of a deeper meaning. It is often the main reason for misinterpretations of scripture.

The definition above has a very important clue if you care to see it. ‘a talent, endowment, aptitude OR inclination. The use of the word ‘OR’ is meant to point out that this word can mean one of these OR the other – but not together – not a whole.

Inclination is the defining word that I will focus on for this entry – because, yep, you guessed it – it points out a ‘preference’ – a preferred choice to lean one way in particular.

Many who CLAIM to have a specific ‘Gift’ will most likely ACT in a manner that is understood solely by the guided understanding of that gift. A teacher will see only through the eyes of one who teaches, an administrator with only the eyes of one who administers . . . and so on.

Again, I could write several pages on this understanding alone. However, the purpose of this entry is to point out something all together different. When one decides to work in the parameters of their ‘gifting’, there is all together a whole other issue and that is of understanding the LIMITATIONS of that gifting. If only it would come with an ‘Owner’s Manual’ – oh, that’s right – it does, but – once again - many fail to READ IT.

Perhaps some churches do this already – after the last entry, I will be the first to admit I have not taken the time to look into this – providing an owner’s manual, that is - in addition to the Word.

Now, as with all things, I hope you realize by now that I WILL NOT speak on ANYTHING that I have not had the chance to personally fumble through. It is because I have errored in these areas that I speak so passionately about them.

I specifically went to the owner’s manual of one of my TOOLS. Because that is what a gifting really is, is it not – a tool to being effective in change ????

Under Operator’s Manual, I found several notations but will focus on just a few:

Installation and Operating – sounds pretty obvious – with a gifting, we FEEL it has been installed in us and we therefore OPERATE in our own understanding of this gifting – hopefully we seek COUNSEL in this area.

Maintenance and Repair – wow, possibly an area we fail to oversee. Any sound service group understands that one needs to CONTINUE to maintain and repair through regular check-ups. Again – could spend several pages on this one alone.

Safety Warnings – What may appear as the obvious is often times overlooked and many an accident has come from improper USE of the gifting.

Which brings me to the KEY point of this whole entry.

‘Intended Use’- Again, this often appears as an obvious, but many SELDOM take the time to really look into this part. Rather than take the time to understand what each gifting is, we often rip open our new tool and start using it before we find out anything about it’s INTENDED USE. I have found the hard way, that there are definite times these gifts SHOULD NOT be used. Perhaps if I had taken the time to thoroughly READ the 'intended useage', some of the my fender-benders may not have happened.

As you continue in your own digging, please be mindful to read the instructions BEFORE beginning anything . . . and don’t forget to go back and read the instructions on those tools you’ve been using for quite some time . . . you might be surprised by what you’ve forgotten or perhaps never knew.