The Talking Tools

Bible Reading: Ephesians 2:8-10; 1 Peter 4:8-11

“Your friend Jon is really growing in his faith, isn’t he? It’s been fun to see him plug in at church,” Uncle Ken said as Landon helped him replace the worn-out boards on the porch.

“Yeah,” Landon said.

“His solo with the junior choir was great,” Uncle Ken said between creaks and squeaks as he pulled nails. Landon didn’t answer. As they worked, he was very quiet—too quiet. Uncle Ken put down his hammer. “Landon, is everything okay?”

Landon sighed. “It’s just that Jon does everything better than I do. I used to sing solos, but now Jon sings most of them. He’s the star student in our class at church too—he brings more visitors and learns more Bible verses than anybody else.”

Uncle Ken nodded. “Get the tape measure out of the toolbox, will you, Landon? Let’s measure and cut the new boards.” He grinned. “What would you think if the hammer got mad when we started using the tape measure? Or what if the tape measure said, ‘You left me in this box for an hour, so I’m not going to measure anything for you’? Or ‘If you don’t let me pull nails, I won’t work’?”

Landon grinned. “They couldn’t do each other’s jobs! They’re tools. They have to do what they’re made to do.”

“Right,” Uncle Ken said. “And Christians are tools in God’s hands, and He gives each of us a job to do. It’s not a competition—we’re all on the same team. We serve because we love Jesus and want to share His love with others—not to make ourselves look good.”

Landon frowned. “But why does Jon have to do everything I do—only better?”

“How many hammers are in my toolbox, Landon?” asked Uncle Ken.

Landon checked. “Two,” he said.

Uncle Ken nodded. “And I use both of them. It’s like that with Jesus—He loves all of us and uses each of us in His own way so more people can know Him. A tool doesn’t tell the carpenter when it will work or what it will do. It simply waits, ready and available for whatever task the carpenter gives it. And that’s how we should be too, Landon—ready and available for Jesus to use whenever and however He pleases.” – Barbara J. Westberg

How About You?

Are you jealous of other Christians? Remember that Jesus uses each of us to do His work and share His love with others in the way He knows is best. We’re all on the same team with other Christians who have both different and similar gifts to our own. Trust Jesus to show you how He wants you to serve Him. Then serve Him faithfully as one of the many tools in His toolbox.

Today’s Key Verse: 1 Peter 4:10 As each one has received a gift, minister it to one another.

Today’s Key Thought:

Christians are God’s tools