Talents and Character - Day of fast 20/21

 BY Argie Simonis

"Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, and have not charity, I am become as sounding brass, or a tinkling cymbal.

And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries, and all knowledge; and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, and have not charity, I am nothing.

And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, and have not charity, it profits me nothing." A'Κορ. 13:1-3

Paul was saying that without God's love driving our actions, then speaking in tongues would just be making noise. The same applies to prophecy, knowledge, faith, our possessions and even if we throw our bodies into the fire does not benefit us. 

The motive behind our actions determines whether those actions are anointed by God or merely dead works (Heb. 9:14)

What is observed today, from politics, government services, social agencies, private businesses, even in the area of the Church, unfortunately the main focus is given to the performance and achievements of people. If you doubt this, with a simple search on the internet you can easily find out how many evaluation methods there are on the subject of performance and compare it to the corresponding evaluation methods on the character of people, especially those in a position of leadership/power.

In other words, in the world there is much more emphasis on what we do than on how and why we do it. Paul here in his letter clearly states that the motives behind our actions are more important than the actions themselves.

This is because God is a Spirit (John 4:24) and relates to us on a spiritual level and not on a carnal level:

"But the LORD said to Samuel, Look not on his countenance, or on the height of his stature; because I have refused him: for the LORD sees not as man sees; for man looks on the outward appearance, but the LORD looks on the heart." 1Samuel 16:7

For example, the gift of prophecy is associated with the understanding of all mysteries. Therefore, prophecy is not simply predicting the future, but understanding what is happening from God's perspective.

Jesus also spoke of faith moving mountains in Mark 11:23.

So how do we as Christians deal with people? Do we only judge them externally by looking at their talents and  skills and their performance or do we know them in the spirit?

"Why from now on know we no man after the flesh: yes, though we have known Christ after the flesh, yet now from now on know we him no more.

Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new." 2Cor. 5:16-17

In the next message we will highlight the character that the Lord calls us to shape according to the mind of Christ that we have:

"But the natural man receives not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness to him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.

But he that is spiritual judges all things, yet he himself is judged of no man.

For who has known the mind of the Lord, that he may instruct him?  But we have the mind of Christ." 1Cor. 2:14-16

To be continued ...