One Anothers Part VIII: Use What You’ve Got
- Dr. Victor Stanley
- 7 days ago
- 2 min read
I once pastored a church that had a worship leader who was a professional performer using a yo-yo. I’m not exactly sure what to call a person who performs with a yo-yo. I suppose they can be called yo-yoists. Whatever the case, I learned of his abilities during a staff meeting. We were planning for an alternative Halloween event and needed Christian entertainment. He said, “Pastor, for our volunteer event, I could stand on stage and swing yo-yos right past your face — real close, but not hit you.” I said, “God may have gifted you to yo-yo, but He hasn’t gifted me to be your target.” We both laughed, but here’s the point: God can use nearly anything if you offer it back to Him. This wonderful man went on to perform for children at our fall outreach event — yo-yoing for a crowd of kids, and then sharing the gospel with them afterward.
Your gift doesn’t have to be glamorous in order to be godly. It just has to be given. In other words, your faith should look like effort.
In Romans 12:11, Paul’s challenge is simple but piercing: “Do not be slothful in zeal, be fervent in spirit, serve the Lord.” Translation: Don’t be lazy. Faith without action isn’t faith — it’s daydreaming. And apathy is the slow leak that drains the Body of Christ’s power. Being a One Another means showing up even when you’re tired, forgiving someone who is wrong, even when you’re right, and praying for someone, even when they are undeserved.
Over my years of serving in ministry, I have noticed that so many people get it wrong. They become competitive but in competing for the wrong things. Instead of competing for recognition or position, what if the competition that we focused on in the Body of Christ was the Competition of Kindness? Imagine what the world would look like if believers tried to outdo each other in humility. What if churches competed in generosity instead of attendance? What if Christians tried to one-up each other in patience, encouragement, and grace?
This is the competition that the Apostle Paul envisioned — not one of ego, but of honor. When we make it our goal to out-love, out-give, and out-serve one another, the watching world has no choice but to take notice.
We need to remind ourselves that people don’t come to Christ because of how clever we are. They come because of how real we are — and nothing is more real than sacrificial love.
Love takes work. Real work. But the results are eternal.
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