Exodus 36:2 Then Moses summoned Bezalel and Oholiab and every skilled person to whom the LORD had given ability and who was willing to come and do the work.

Giving to the Lord isn’t limited to finances; we are to give Him our time and abilities too. However, this verse is a reminder that every­thing we give to God is something we have received from Him in the first place. We are so quick to forget that! The two things called for in this verse are God-given ability and personal willingness to serve. It’s that second item that’s most often the sticking point! It has been said that God isn’t after ability, He’s after availability. He can give ability to whomever He pleases, but if the recipient of the ability doesn’t make themselves available to God, then nothing good is accomplished. In this verse the NIV uses the words “skill” and “ability,” but the Japanese says “wisdom” for both, and I have a feeling that’s closer to the original. A proper attitude toward God is of course the foundation of wisdom, and these were people who recognized that their skill sets had been given them by God, and therefore should be used for His glory. It is sad to see talented people who decline to acknowledge God. That attitude never results in true happiness and satisfaction for the individual. I personally think Frank Sinatra’s signature song, My Way, is one of the saddest in the catalog, because it expresses the emptiness of his life, that is shared with far too many talented people.

I don’t know that my abilities are outstanding in any particular area, but the Lord has certainly given me a wide variety of them. It is quite appropriate that my name is Jack, because I’m certainly a “Jack (apprentice) of all trades, and master of none.” A lot of people don’t realize that’s the full quote, or that “Jack” means “apprentice,” which is why it appears so frequently as a name in nursery rhymes. In any case, I am able to do many things, and to a degree that has kept me from focusing on anything to excel at it. However, that’s no excuse! I am to keep every ability God has given me available to Him at all times, so that His purposes may be accomplished. Only that will bring real satisfaction to me, as it blesses others and gives glory to Him.

Father, even I wonder sometimes why You have enabled me to do so many different things. It has been a temptation to pride for me and it has been intimidating to others. Help me walk in genuine humility that doesn’t deny what You have placed in me, but doesn’t take personal credit for it either. I pray that I would continue to grow in stewardship of all that You have placed in me, so that Your will may be done in and through me for Your glory. Thank You. Praise God!