Your Gift and Relationships

And the priests brought in the ark of the covenant of the Lord unto his place, into the oracle of the house, to the most holy place, even under the wings of the cherubims.  – 1 Kings 8:6

The Ark of the Covenant, which represented God’s presence, had been a blessing to the Israelites. However, due to different circumstances, it had been in different places; sometimes where it never should have been.It had been mishandled. Finally, God allowed Solomon to build the temple where the world could get to know Him better, and there the ark had a permanent place under the wings of the cherubims. Once placed there the presence of God filled the house. (1 Kings 8:10) Although the ark was settled in one place, anyone in the kingdom who presented themselves with the right spirit or attitude could come and worship.

We all have God-given gifts. It is important to respect those gifts and expect the same respect from others. While you may be tempted to make your gift available and as accessible as possible, it may be necessary to determine your God-ordained location and settle there.  With God’s help and good communication, identify the few with whom you should connect and establish appropriate relationships. (Luke 6:13)  By being committed in one location and one circle, your gift may be more beneficial to more people.   

Psalm 133:1 says, “Behold how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity!” Once you have identified your circle and location, the goal is unity. Brethren is not necessarily biological relatives.In fact, if your want to be the best at who God called you to be, then it may be required to separate from them. (Genesis 12:1-2) Brethren can be anyone who has the same goals and purposes.This is why good communication is so vital. Technology is wonderful; however it has its place. There are times when a more direct communication method is necessary to ensure you are understood and there is mutuality. It is wise to know when to use social media, send an email, or pick up the telephone. With effective communication you will know what others expect from you and what to contribute. It will prevent situations when someone is somewhere waiting for you to do something, but you are totally unaware.It will help you find your place in God’s temple and avoid conflicts and misuse of your gift.