Having been involved in youth ministry in one capacity or another over the past few years I have watched many young people full of promise come and go. For a few, "going" meant moving forward into the ministry God had laid out for them. But for most, "going" meant falling away spiritually and never reaching the potential so many of us saw in them.
With these young people I saw two words used over and over that either became a blessing or the kiss of death: talent and anointing. I have heard these labels thrust, sometimes correctly and sometimes not, on young musicians, preachers, and teachers.
How could it possibly be a bad thing to label young people in this way? While I see nothing wrong with encouraging our young leaders with these words, the hearers of these words need to understand that innate ability or even calling doesn't give them a free pass to do as they please.
The problem with throwing these words around (particularly "anointed") is that it becomes an excuse for laziness. I've watched over and over as those labeled as "talented" or "anointed" take those labels to mean they don't have to show up to practice or study their bibles. Because they have been labeled as having God's hand on them in a unique way, they don't think they have to put in an effort. Why should they waste their time fine tuning their skills if they are already better than those around them?
The answer is found in 1 Chronicles 21. David had messed up...bad. As punishment for going against God's instructions and taking a census, God sent a plague upon Israel. David cried out to the Lord begging that God's anger be taken out on him for his sin instead of his people. The Lord spoke to David through his seer telling him to make a sacrifice at the threshing floor of a man named Araunah. When David asked Araunah to allow him to buy his threshing floor, Aranuah offered to give David not only the floor, but everything needed for the sacrifices at no charge.
David refused and his response in verse 24 should be ours: "No, I insist on paying the full price. I will not take for the Lord what is yours, or sacrifice a burnt offering that costs me nothing." (NIV) God honored David's sacrifice.
What does this have to do with our labels? This story illustrates an important principle: sacrifice requires cost. It alway has, it always will. If the worship you offer required no work on your part, then it is NOT a "sacrifice" of praise. If the sermon you bring didn't require time and energy studying and praying and yes, maybe even pushing a plate back, then it cost you nothing. Since when is it okay to offer to the most high God that which cost us nothing?
David knew that his worship would not be received if he didn't pay the price for it and the same is true of our worship. What if we came to an understanding that God would only accept our worship if it cost us something? Would we offer lazy, thrown together praises? Or would we only bring sacrificial worship?
If God has anointed you or poured out special talent and ability on you then you should work harder than anyone in the room out of gratitude to the Lord who placed ability in you. Talent is not an excuse for laziness. Anointing is not an excuse for being irresponsible. Guard that which God lent you and give it back to him ten fold.
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