God Hasn't Messed Up
By Tom Park
Our loving God has specially created us to be the tools he needs in the world right now. Complaining about not being more like someone else, then, doesn't make sense.
"I hate that guy! He just gets all this math stuff. How come I am not like him?"
"I don't like her because she is a better soccer player than me. It is not fair that she is good without doing anything."
Words we very often speak - or think. Words we hear from the friends around us. Words that have two serious problems. The first problem is a lack of contentment with the talents God has given us. The other is our lack of appreciation for the talents of others (1 Corinthians 12:14-31).
The Problem with Comparison
If we start to compare ourselves to others, we are saying " God, you've messed up. How can I be thankful for the gifts and talents you have graciously given to me? They are not as good as other people's. I know what is best for me. Yes, I understand that you love me and everything, but I don't like your gifts to me."
A lack of gratitude and trust
Whoa! How can speak like this to the Lord who is giving a gift?
You would never say to your parents "The Christmas gift you gave to me is not as big and fancy as my brother's. It's not good enough."
Out of thanksgiving to God and trust in his love and wisdom we use the gifts he has given. He's given others different gifts because others have different jobs. Some have gifts to become pastors. Some have gifts to become engineers.
Built for a Purpose
What if everyone in this world was only given engineering talents? This world would be a boring- and unworkable-place. Paul said in his epistle to the Corinthians, "But in fact God has arranged the parts in the body, every one of them, just as he wanted them to be. If they were all one part, where would the body be?" (1 Corinthians 12:18).
If everyone were engineers, who would make ice cream for us? Who would protect us from terrorists? Who would preach the Word and care for our souls? Everyone's gifts are different but our purpose is the same: serving the Lord and spreading the sweet gospel to others (1 Corinthians 10:31).
The Reason to Trust
We are God's precious children. He loves us so dearly that he gave his one and only Son. There no way he could have messed up when he made us the unique people we are. We do not have time to waste by comparing ourselves to others. We gladly accept who our Father has made us and the opportunities he has given us to serve him. We joyfully use whatever gifts and talents God has given us to help others hear God's word (1 Corinthians 1:26-29).
The guy who understands quadratic equations. The girl who is an excellent goal-keeper. Don't grumble that they are better than you at those things. Rejoice that God has given them such gifts-and that he has given you gifts specially tailored for you and his purpose for you. God hasn't messed up.