Scripture
“Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others, as faithful stewards of God’s grace in its various forms. If anyone speaks, they should do so as one who speak the very words of God. If anyone serves, they should do so with the strength God provides, so that in all things God may be praised through Jesus Christ. To him be the glory and the power for ever and ever. Amen.”
1 Peter 4:10-11
Quotes/Color
“Don’t be a turd. If you’re strong, be a protector. And if you’re smart, be a humble influencer. Strength and intelligence can be weapons… do not wield them against the weak.”
Chris Pratt
“When I stand before God at the end of my life, I would hope that I would not have a single bit of talent left and could say, ‘I used everything you gave me.’”
Erma Bombeck
Context
Alright, show of hands. Who else cried the first time they watched Avengers: End Game?
Anyone else? Just me?
Any guesses on the scene?
You’re thinking… “Oh its gotta be the ‘I love you 3,000’ line from Tony’s daughter wasn’t it? It had to have been!” Not for me. “Oh, maybe it was that scene when Spiderman was holding Iron-Man? And was contemplating life without his mentor and biggest believer?” That one was is good. But, nope. “Ok then maybe when all of Hawkeye’s family disappeared on him? And you see the repercussions of Thanos’ evil plan unfold on normal, innocent, unassuming people? I don’t know.” No. Not that one either. Unfortunately, nothing.
For me one scene stands alone in the entire movie… “Avengers… Assemble.” (give it a watch)
In this scene, Captain America was left alone to fend off Thanos. The big bad guy himself. Shield broken, battered and bruised, things looked bleak for the good guys. Thor was down and out. Iron-Man out of the picture. Cap was weak and looking for certain like he could be taken out at a moment’s notice. But nevertheless, he tightened his gloves and prepared for what looked like one final beating to put the nail on the coffin.
When all of the sudden…
“On your left…”
His buddy, Sam, calls. And every single Avenger, from the A Team (Black Panther, Peter Quill, Dr. Strange, Spiderman, etc.) to the D Team (Mantis, Thor’s blue friend, that guy who helps out Dr. Strange, etc.) begins to be portaled in by Dr. Strange. EVERYONE showed up for the final battle to defeat evil. Unified in a line. Each one differing in skill from the next. Staring forward, committed to the same cause. Ready to fight and take on Thanos together.
Captain America rallies the crew, lets them collect, summons Thor’s hammer and then… hits you with the legendary cheesy line that they somehow pulled off… “Avengers… Assemble.”
And the whole heavenly host of Avengers charges courageously to take on the bad guys.
Tears.
Application
View your talents as a valuable resource given to you by God to be carefully invested in the right place. Steward them. Carefully identify them and ask yourself, “Where should I place these to honor God?”
Your gifts and talents were given uniquely to you. And whether you like it or not, they’re yours to keep. That’s what I loved so much about that scene in Avengers: End Game.
A couple points of application.
Don’t Look Over Your Shoulder at Someone Else’s Gifts, Faithfully Use Yours
How do you think Mantis felt about showing up to that battle that determined the fate of all humanity? You know, that girl whose superpower is to feel people’s emotions, touch people on the forehead and tell them to sleep. Do you think she felt a little bit inadequate facing off against Thanos? Do you think she was looking over at Thor and thinking to herself, “There’s no way for me to help here… All I can do is make people sleep. If I were Thor I could actually make a difference here.”
How do you think Grut felt? You know, the guy who is a tree? And used to be big and strong but got blown up and is now only a few years removed from being a tender little sapling in a clay pot? Do you think he felt a bit ill-prepared and a bit underwhelmed in the part he would play in the most important battle of all time? Do you think he was looking over at Iron-Man and thinking, “Well it certainly would be nice to fire missiles out of my shoulders right about now. Or fly. If I can’t do one of those things, why am I even here?”
No. No to both of those things. And no to all of the above.
What made me love the “Avengers… Assemble” scene so much is this… Not a single hero was looking over their shoulder. Not a single one of them thought they couldn’t make a difference and add to the cause.
Every single one of them showed up with full belief in the cause. They looked out in front of themselves. Looked toward a noble cause and said to themselves, “Well… I’ve got this one thing that I happen to be able to do really well. It’s kinda random, but it’s my thing. And don’t exactly know how it’s gonna play out here in these conditions. But it’s what I’ve got. And help is needed. So I’m gonna use it in any way I possibly can to help this cause. And maybe it will help.”
That is why I got worked up at that scene more than any other. Because I thought…
“I hope I do that. I hope I show up when it matters. And am faithful to the little things that God has gifted me with to use for His greater cause. I hope I show up. And I hope I use it. Large or small.”
Your Gifting Is Not Too Small. Your Gifting Is Not Too Insignificant
God gave you your gifts on loan. None of them are by accident and none are too small. Don’t write off a single one. Show up and use them – big ones or small ones.
- Are you a great leader? Excellent. Now be a good steward of it and create an environment of encouragement and return all attention and glory you receive to God.
- Are you a great cook? Awesome. Sign up for every meal train. Someone has a baby? Casserole. Someone has a tragedy in the family? Rhubarb pie. Shower people with love and sustenance. Fill them up and let them know the meal comes from a full heart of love from God.
- Are you a gifted communicator? Super. You’ve got a way to elevate things and keep things from getting stale for others. Now be a good steward of that gift and craft words for others to understand God in new and encouraging ways.
- Are you bad with words but good with your hands? Perfect. Sign up for every opportunity to serve the widows in your church community and orphans in the local community. Fix fences, screw in lightbulbs, paint basketball court lines and spread some mulch. Because Jesus said that we are to live as servants to others and people need to be taken care of.
View your gifts as a valuable resource. Treat them as something to be generously shared and carefully invested like an intentional philanthropist would do with their money.
Don’t skip out on the battle. Show up. Faithfully steward each and every gift alongside others. And look forward to telling God, “I used everything you gave me.”
Something to Chew On:
- Have you taken serious inventory of the gifts God has given to you? Really thought about them and know what they are? If so – have you committed to courageously stewarding them towards God’s Kingdom on earth?
- Deep down do you sit on the bench because you devalue the gifts and talents you have? Wishing you had the platform someone else did to make a difference? Or do you accept the gifts you’ve been given open handedly and trust they can in fact be used for God’s glory?
GreatValue Proverb:
Don’t miss the battle. Carefully steward every resource you have. Time, Talents and Treasure.