First Grade

(Originally written for First Lutheran Church, Morris, MN - April 2005)

"But the Lord said to me, 'My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.' So I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may dwell in me.... for whenever I am weak, then I am strong." - 2 Corinthians 12:9, 10b

In Bible study the other day, the comment was made that sometimes we become so focused on our faults and weaknesses that we cannot see the gifts God has given us. Sound familiar? I know I do it. Looking back on an old placement form I had once completed, the only talent I listed was playing flute. Now granted, I can play the flute, but I can also crochet with about equal ability. Neither talent is something that would make or break my getting a job. I'm just not that good at either of those talents. But I really don't know what I'd list.

Sometimes I think the best part about job hunting is reading the letters of recommendation people have written for me. They see things in me that I don't see.

I know I'm not alone in not seeing my gifts. It's amazing to me how many very talented people we have who deny their gifts. We have learned so well that it's wrong to boast that, too often, we deny our God-given abilities rather than admit we can do something well.

Too often we spend time comparing ourselves to others, and forget that God has given all of us gifts in varying degrees. When we spend time comparing ourselves to others, we turn our focus in on ourselves rather than out on the world which God has given us to nurture.

We also forget that God's grace is there to make up for our lack of ability or when our abilities fall far short of the need. God will always be there to support and strengthen us for the need. We may question our abilites but we still have those abilities. The theologian, pastor and seminary professor, Gerhard Frost writes about a little boy who, "...had a great year in kindergarten, but now the going was hard in first grade. After reflection and brooding he came to his mother with a sad self-assessment and solemn conclusion: 'I don't think I'm really first grade; I'm more kindergarten type' "("The Demon Self-Doubt", Seasons of a Lifetime, p. 34)

God has created us as unique individuals; we are all "first grade" - top of the line. He has given us gifts, though too often we doubt their existence or their worth (and consequently our worth). But the apostle, Paul, reminds us, "Now there are varieties of gifts, but the same Spirit; and there are varities of services, but the same Lord; and there are varieties of activities, but it is the same God who activates all of them in everyone." (1 Corinthians 12:4-6)

God is able to use all of our gifts for his glory. As Frost concludes, "... God has loved us into dignity and worth forever." (Ibid., p. 35) We just need to trust that he will use us; and then we need to say "yes" when the call comes.

God's grace is a wondrous thing. He is able to take us where we are and fill in the gaps to get us where he needs us to be. All we need to do is trust him enough to say "yes", do our best, and know that God will make it not just good enough but perfect.

As Paul writes, "(God's) grace is sufficient... for his power is made perfect in weakness..." And the best part is, we don't have to worry about boasting because we know we have only done our best, the difference is done by God. So, like Paul, we may boast in God's goodness and not in our own abilities.

Perhaps whenever we list our talents, the first one we should list is our ability to say "yes" to whatever God asks of us.

May we all see ourselves as God sees us and say "yes" when we are called to serve.