SaggyWoman
Active Member
jealous of other people's God given talents?
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Do you find yourself....
- Thread starter SaggyWoman
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Tom Bryant
Well-Known Member
Sometimes. When I hear Chuck Swindoll preach, I think about getting into another line of work.
But most times not.
But most times not.
JOAN OF ARC
New Member
I will admit that occasionally I do covet someone else's talent. And then I have to repent. :BangHead:
Tom Butler
New Member
Of course, I get jealous. Every time I hear a tenor hit a high note, I wish I could do it. Being a bass, i don't think it'll ever happen.
Then again, my voice earned me a good living as a radio and television newscaster for 41 years. And54 years after that first paycheck, it's still earning some free-lance commercial bucks.
Uh, never mind.
Then again, my voice earned me a good living as a radio and television newscaster for 41 years. And54 years after that first paycheck, it's still earning some free-lance commercial bucks.
Uh, never mind.
I have a cousin who can play any musical instrument you can name----w/no lessons----you put the instrument in front of him---he can pick it up and play flawlessly---it don't matter what it is---piano, fiddle, flute, trumpet, guiter, banjo, mandelin, tuba-----------don't get me wrong--when my daddy's family would get together for reunions, Christmas, etc and he would play---we'd all listen to the sweet sound from whatever he held in his hand at the time------------only wishin'---------"I wish I could play that like that!!!!"
Thinkingstuff
Active Member
When I was a teenager and early 20's I would say that was the case. But then I learned to be happy with the tallents I had and focus on those. I rarely think about such things now in that manner.
Just for the record:
Envy is the desire for something that someone else has, or a feeling of ill will over another person's advantages in general:
'My envy of your success has made me bitter.'
Jealousy is a resentful suspicion that someone else has what rightfully belongs to the jealous person:
'Out of jealousy, he followed his wife.'
'The favored treatment of the daughter created jealousy in the son.'
http://www.cliffsnotes.com/Section/...-and-jealousy-.id-305408,articleId-29127.html
I have a deep admiration (that could border on envy) for those who can 'think on their feet' and correctly quote/apply scriptures off the top of their head to a topic or conversation or in a sermon, and never look at the Book. Would that be a photographic memory?
I also have a deep admiration for those that can sing. I have two daughters that sing and harmonize like angels, for which I am thankful (notice I didn't say proud
).
Envy is the desire for something that someone else has, or a feeling of ill will over another person's advantages in general:
'My envy of your success has made me bitter.'
Jealousy is a resentful suspicion that someone else has what rightfully belongs to the jealous person:
'Out of jealousy, he followed his wife.'
'The favored treatment of the daughter created jealousy in the son.'
http://www.cliffsnotes.com/Section/...-and-jealousy-.id-305408,articleId-29127.html
I have a deep admiration (that could border on envy) for those who can 'think on their feet' and correctly quote/apply scriptures off the top of their head to a topic or conversation or in a sermon, and never look at the Book. Would that be a photographic memory?
I also have a deep admiration for those that can sing. I have two daughters that sing and harmonize like angels, for which I am thankful (notice I didn't say proud
).
Let me tell you something right now, sister. You most certainly do have a gift. You have blessed me here before - more than once. :flower:
I have no idea of anything about you, but I am sure that you are a blessing to your family and friends and community, too. :flower: :flower:
This mindset of "I have no spiritual gift" is a lie from the Father of Lies. He would love to see you view yourself as not being equipped by God and having nothing to offer the kingdom of God.
All of us have a purpose or we would not be here. All of us have a work to do that God prepared for us in advance. "For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— not by works, so that no one can boast. For we are God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do." - Ephesians 2:8-10
And to have a work - we must be equipped by Him to do that work. "May the God of peace, who through the blood of the eternal covenant brought back from the dead our Lord Jesus, that great Shepherd of the sheep, equip you with everything good for doing his will, and may he work in us what is pleasing to him, through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen." - Hebrew 13:20-21
You may never know exactly what the gift is. Some gifts are obvious, some gifts are given as distinct callings, and I believe that some gifts are just intwined by God into a person's nature.
If you are in the center of God's will and are in obedience to Him, then the gift is there and God is working it out in your life.
If you are allowing God to work in your life for HIS Name's sake - then He has equipped you for those "good works" that He prepare for your Christian walk and for doing His will.
:flower:
Thank you Scarlett. You have blessed me more than you'll ever know! :1_grouphug:
Give us a break!!!!!:smilewinkgrin:
Gifts / spiritual gifts? I have stated before on here that I have come to have doubts as to whether anybody has these or not. Now my position is strongly on the side of 'not.' I really don't know anyone who had no wisdom, teaching ability, mercy, exhortation, or any of the others, and just suddenly they developed one (or more). Rather they seem to be qualities that we have had-- and used or not-- all our lives.
As for talents, I think we can develop the ones we want to among those. I remember that as a kid I would be envious of other kids who could draw better than I could, and wasn't steered in the right direction, but was told some people just "have it," and some don't. But since I wanted to be a good drawer, I worked on it and became one. Then in jr. high and high school a number of other students sometimes said, "I wish I could draw as good as you can."
So in either case-- gifts or talents (if there is any difference)-- we have what we want to have and have worked to have better. I don't see that we are instantaneously bestowed with any useful ability, but none is 'beyond' us if we really desire it.
As for talents, I think we can develop the ones we want to among those. I remember that as a kid I would be envious of other kids who could draw better than I could, and wasn't steered in the right direction, but was told some people just "have it," and some don't. But since I wanted to be a good drawer, I worked on it and became one. Then in jr. high and high school a number of other students sometimes said, "I wish I could draw as good as you can."
So in either case-- gifts or talents (if there is any difference)-- we have what we want to have and have worked to have better. I don't see that we are instantaneously bestowed with any useful ability, but none is 'beyond' us if we really desire it.
So according to your logic, if praised is heaped upon someone that is gifted say, with a beautiful voice, then they can rightfully accept the adulation, because after all, it is their quality? This kind of thinking is what leads to pride and arrogance. Whatever quality (gift) you may have comes from the Lord and the praise should be His.
1 Corinthians 4:7 For who maketh thee to differ [from another]? and what hast thou that thou didst not receive? now if thou didst receive [it], why dost thou glory, as if thou hadst not received [it]?
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Trotter
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No, I don't. God has given me my own talents and gifts.
I do, however, get jealous of those who are able to use their gifts. The door has not been opened for me to utilize that which God has given me. Patience is not my strong suite, but it seems God is determined to teach it to me.
Let's see what the bible says.
Ephesians 4:8, 11-15 - "Wherefore he saith, When he ascended up on high, he led captivity captive, and gave gifts unto men. And he gave some,apostles; and some,prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers; For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ: Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ: That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and for, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive; But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all things, which is the head, even Christ."
Now, one has to exercise the gift given to develop it, but yes I believe I woke up one day with the gift and desire to preach. One day I had no desire to speak to God's people about God's book, and then all of the sudden I did. I've had to work at it to develop the gift, but I didn't just conjure it out of think air and I didn't have it 5 years ago. Furthermore, some preachers are gifted in different ways. Some are able to quote scripture while others have to flip in their bible to that place under consideration. Some are better able to explain complex subjects in a simple manner. Some are better at preaching the prophetic portions of the bible. All gifts require work, but there is no doubt that some are given different gifts. The reason is quite simple. God knows that different people need different things and raises up various gifts for this purpose.
What should such a person say? "Shut up and don't praise my voice!"? A voice results from physical qualities that we don't decide. But it can be changed to some extent. Minor surgeries can eliminate or lessen lisping, for example. But I have never known anyone who converted to Christ and suddenly got an entirely different voice, "beautiful" or not.
I didn't say anybody should be boastful of what they didn't create. But a lot of people certainly take advantage of these inbred qualities. Some have to work hard at developing them; some are just in the right situations at the right time [e.g., Elvis]. And human nature is nutty enough to want to heap praise on the individuals who please them thus. Voice quality does go far in determining the livelihood of entertainers, salespeople, anyone who regularly speaks before groups or crowds, including ministers, who smile and say "thank you" for the praise heaped on them.