From Bishop Jemmott’s Monthly “The Bishop’s Pen” Publication for March 2017 entitled “According to Your Ability”:

Ability is possession of the means or skill to do something. Famous Indian chef Vikas Khanna said the following about Ability: “Disability is the inability to see ability.” Someone also said, “You are born with the ability to change someone else’s life, don’t waste it.” According to these quotes, we are all born with some abilities. The Bible teaches that God gives spiritual and natural gifts to individuals.

Jesus taught many moral and spiritual principles through the use of parables; one of His known parables is the one about gifts called the parable of the talents. “To one he gave five bags of gold, to another two bags, and to another one bag, each according to his ability. Then he went on his journey.” Matthew 25:15 (NIV) Now according to the parable, not everyone received equal gifts. Some received more than others based on their ability. God expects us to multiply our gifts! How do you multiply love if your gift is love? You multiply love by loving people. You cannot multiply your gift by sitting on it.

There is an interesting Bible verse that’s written by the Apostle Paul in Ephesians 4:16 – “From whom the whole body, being fitted and held together by what every joint supplies, according to the proper working of each individual part, causes the growth of the body for the building up of itself in love.”

The word I want you to notice is “joint”; the Greek word used by Paul in this text means something that connects. In medical terms, the word joint means the same thing; medically speaking, a joint is the part of the body where two or more bones meet to allow movement. Every bone in the body – except for the hyoid bone in the throat – meets up with at least one other bone at a joint. The shape of a joint depends on its function. A joint is also known as an articulation.

As believers, we are given abilities or gifts for the purpose of helping the body of Christ. Your gift should be used for two purposes in the body of Christ, connection and movement. God gave you your gift so that you can connect people to His body, the church, and facilitate the movement and growth of His church. The Apostle Paul said that gifts are for the edification and building up of the body of Christ (1 Corinthians 14:12). Our gifts should not be used for our personal aggrandizement.

When we fail to use our gift, we restrict and slow the flow and growth of the body of Christ. Paul said, “Every joint supplies…” If the body of Christ is to flow and work without limited movement, every joint has to supply. You cannot sit on your asset believing that your gift is not significant to the body of Christ. God wants you to use your gift. Jesus concluded the parable of the talent by calling the person who buried his gift evil. He took away his talent and gave it to another and said, “Throw out the worthless slave into the outer darkness; in that place, there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.” Matthew 25:30 (NASB)

It’s time to “Get off your assets!” Use your talent to help move, connect and grow the body of Christ!

Be Blessed!

Bishop Jemmott

Subscribe to receive this monthly newsletter via email by clicking here.