God’s Toolbox: Romans 12:6-8
Did you know when God graces you with salvation by grace through faith, He gives you a toolbox? He does. Let me show you what I’m talking about.
Romans 12:6-8, (6) Having gifts that differ according to the grace given to us, let us use them: if prophesy in proportion to our faith; (7) if service in our serving; the one who teaches, in his teaching; (8) the one who exhorts, in his exhortation; the one who contributes, in generosity; the one who leads, with zeal; the one who does acts of mercy, with cheerfulness.”
In verse 6 the Apostle Paul talks about gifts that differ according to the grace given to us. The word “gift” means literally “grace gifts.” If you have the grace of God, He has given you a grace gift to use to serve Him.
I spent 1967 working as a service station attendant and light duty mechanic in a Phillips 66 service station on Highway 66 in Flagstaff, Ariz.
During the course of the year, I bought tools from the Mac Tool guy when he came by with his truck. I put together a significant toolbox during that year. I was equipped to work on a car.
I came home on leave from the Army and wanted to get my toolbox out and work on my mother’s car. I asked where it was. My brother, 10 years younger than me, had loaned it to some guy and it was gone, and no one could come up with its whereabouts. I was unhappy! God has provided a toolbox for anyone under grace and it won’t get lost! It lives inside you in the person of the Holy Spirit!
These gifts in our toolbox differ according to the grace given to us! Verse 6:b says, “Let us use them.” We’re supposed to open God’s toolbox and take the gifts out and use them to serve God!
During the 1970’s we became aware of these “grace gifts.” By the 1980’s and 1990’s, people were holding seminars on discovering your grace gifts. I never found much value in such things.
I would note what God said to do is to use them! Open up your toolbox and use what you find. The bottom line is when you’re walking with the Lord and He calls you to do something, you do it.
When you do it you have opened up the toolbox and used the grace gift to serve!
I served in full-time youth ministry from 1974 to 1978. As I reflect on that time of my life and ministry, I think I used three major grace gifts, that of leading, teaching and personal evangelism.
You may have noticed personal evangelism isn’t on the list! Since God is God and none of us are Him. He can put whatever tool He figures we need in our toolbox!
My take on grace gifts has always been I’ve had a mix of needed tools in the toolbox. I would note the tools in the box change during different season in my life and ministry!
I spent 3 years in youth ministry and 27 as a full-time lead pastor of a church. During the 27 years as a lead pastor my toolbox was different and was made up of leadership, teaching and preaching, personal evangelism, administration and equipping others for ministry!
After 30 years of doing nothing but ministry, I sold Fords for just short of 14 years. This was a different season and my tools changed for that season! I demonstrated the gift of showing mercy, serving others, and bearing witness. Those things were used to see people come to the Lord as I was able to help coworkers and customers with weddings and funerals, and personal pain and problems.
We moved back to Porterville at the end of July 2018. God rearranged my toolbox again. For more than two years I’ve been putting messages from the Bible in articles for the Porterville Recorder each weekend. I was drawn to that simple ministry of teaching the Bible. That use of the grace gifts in God’s toolbox has opened the door to lead someone to the Lord! Now I have been drawn to teach my messages from the Bible on a Youtube channel I started.
Here’s the bottom line: open the toolbox and use tools when opportunity arises to do so!
When the Lord calls me to open the toolbox and use a tool to serve Him, I will take the tool out and put it to work. I will be 72 years old in January! That doesn’t change the fact God has given me a toolbox with grace gifts inside!
When God calls me to take a tool out and use it to serve Him and people I will take it out and put it too work!
If you’re under grace you have a toolbox too! When God calls you to take a tool out and use it…. Get right to it!
Tom West works in advanced planning at Myers Funeral Service in Porterville and can be reached on his cell phone at 602.758.1168. You can watch his messages on his Youtube channel Preacher Tom 49.