"…none of you can get by with blowing your own horn before God. Everything that we have – right thinking and right living, a clean slate and a fresh start – comes from God by way of Jesus Christ. That’s why we have the saying, “If you’re going to blow a horn, blow a trumpet for God.” (1Corinthians 1:29-31, The Message).
There is nothing we have that we have not received. All that we have comes from the hand of God whether we believe it or not. The Bible says that every good gift and every perfect gift come from God, the Father of light, and that there is no inconsistency with this truth (James 1:17). Even where you have worked for what you received and you think you deserve to have it, you will still come to accept that what you received was a gift from God when you realise that there are others who have done what you did but never got the results you have.
That is the grace factor, the God factor in all we do and have.
If the above is true, then it makes very little sense to boast of whatever you have. Unfortunately, the average person makes a job of it, flaunting their gifts, talents and blessings as if they are the author thereof. In the same vein, it is utter stupidity to gloat over your neighbour for what he does not have. In fact, the proud and arrogant boaster is not only ignorant but foolish. He is ignorant and foolish because the object of man's boasting is typically transient and mostly ephemeral - something that is there today but may not be there tomorrow.
And why has God given us all that we have received? That we may serve Him all the days of our lives. We must realise that we are no more than vessels through whom God wants to get His will effected on the
earth, and that all we have are given to us to help us fulfil that purpose. Our birth, the breath we breathe, the abilities and the material resources we have, even the children God has blessed us with have all been given to us that we might serve God without distractions all the days of our lives. Zechariah, the father of John the Baptist understood this perfectly (Luke 1:67-79).
So where does all the above lead us? It is not just that we should "blow a trumpet for God", giving Him thanks and praise for all He has blessed us with; that we must consciously and continually do, ascribing all glory to Him. But more importantly, we ought to use whatever we have - the things that we have received - to serve God in every direct, possible way, and to serve Him by serving humanity.
Every resource at our disposal must be put to the service of God.
Remember that is the very reason why you were given those things in the first place. It will become what I call an abuse of the blessings of God when we fail to utilise those things we have received in the service of God. May you never be found guilty of such an abuse.
As you go on in this momentous year, it will be a good exercise to constantly evaluate your performance in this all important department of life. So far, how much of what God has blessed you with have you
put into His service, both directly and indirectly? I want you to always remember that after you are done with this life, nothing that you've done will remain but what you've done for Him. Please don't
allow the tools God has given you to serve Him become the things that distract you from serving Him. That is a tragedy you should never permit.
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