April 17, 2023
Joe Brockinton ’74
Retired
I Timothy 4:14 Do not neglect your gift, which was given you through prophecy when the body of elders laid their hands on you.
In the 1920s, Ira and Ann Yates purchased a sheep ranch in West Texas. They struggled to make a go of it and were unable to pay their mortgage and taxes. Eventually they accepted government welfare to keep from losing the ranch. On a hunch they invited the Transcontinental Oil Company to explore their land for oil. In 1926 the oil company came and set up the machinery and began to drill down. 500 feet – nothing. 800 feet – still dry. 1000 feet – no oil. At 1100 feet they tapped into one of the richest oil reserves in Texas. The well was soon pumping 80,000 barrels of oil a day. In a moment, the Yates went from welfare to millionaires.
Christians are often like the Yates. Their land was rich with oil but they were unaware of the great reserve that laid 1100 feet below them. Likewise, God has promised gifts to His children but for some reason we choose not to accept these gifts even though the gifts are ours if we simply accept and use them for kingdom purposes.
Paul knew that Timothy had a gift and he implored him not to neglect his gift but to use it in his ministry. Evidently, it’s possible to know that we have a gift and yet, we neglect to employ it as intended. In his letter to the Ephesians, Paul emphasized that Jesus has imparted gifts “to equip his people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up.” Each of us has been given one or more gifts that we are to use to promote growth in our sphere of influence. Have you sought the Giver and discovered your spiritual gift? If so, are you using your gift to build God’s kingdom here on earth?