Different Gifts

As believers of Christ, we are all a part of a team — God’s team. Whatever your plan and purpose, it is ultimately to advance the Kingdom of God and to bring glory and honor to His name. And in bringing glory and honor to God’s name, we all play a different role.

God’s team is similar to a football team. On a football team, you have a quarterback, running backs, wide receivers, offensive and defensive linemen, linebackers, and defensive backs. All have different purposes. The quarterback’s job is to throw the ball; the running backs and receivers run and catch the ball. The lineman block. The defensive players are responsible for stopping the offense from scoring.

Everyone has a different role, and they are all significant. If the receiver did not catch the ball, the team could not score. If the linemen don’t block, the quarterback can’t throw. Every role is different, but still important. And the same goes for God’s team. Romans 12 tells us, “we have different gifts, according to the grace given to each of us.”

God did not give us all the same talents and abilities because then we would not be able to accomplish many different things. Just like in football how you do not have 11 quarterbacks on the field, God does not need every one of us to be a pastor. He needs teachers in the school systems. He needs coaches impacting young athletes. He needs government officials to help lead our nation and state.

There are so many different roles, and God wants His people to fill them in all different areas. Whatever your gift is, be thankful for it. It is by God’s grace that you have the gifts and abilities you do. To be jealous or envious of others is just wasting time that you could be using to accomplish your purpose. Do not compare yourself to others. That is like a quarterback comparing himself to a wide receiver. They have wo totally different jobs. Play your role to the best of your abilities!