Things TO BE before I die countdown: #9 Be able to be broken for Christ.

#9: Be able to be broken for Christ.

I’ve always loved the story in Mark 14 about the woman who anointed Christ’s head with the expensive flask of fragrant oil. It says that she broke the flask to pour out the oil. Usually, when we have something of value, we put it in a place of honor or guard it carefully so it won’t get broken.

My favorite part of this story is when the flask is broken and out spills a beautiful fragrance. Shouldn’t that be true of our lives, too? God is looking for a vessel that is willing to be broken for His Kingdom work. He wants us to use our most precious gifts and talents for Him.

The Proverbs 31 woman was considered far above rubies (Proverbs 31:10). First Peter 3:4 says, “Rather let it be the hidden person of the heart, with the incorruptible beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is very precious in the sight of God” (NKJV). He regards souls that are turned toward heaven as very precious. If Jesus is your Savior, you are very precious in His sight and He created you to be used up.

In the last two weeks I’ve attended two funerals of two uncles in my family. One uncle was saved but was known as a penny-pincher. I think that separated him from some of the other relatives. The second uncle was one of the most giving individuals I’ve ever met. He was giving of his time, himself, his service to others, and his funds. Not that he was rich, but he was blessed by God to have this character. The difference in those two gentlemen was obvious. Think about your own legacy. Will you be known as a vessel that was broken and spilled out for others, your church, your friends, and your family?

Oh God, open our eyes to be used for Your glory! You know us inside out, every gift, talent, ability, characteristic, and personality. Please help us to be willing and open to be used up!

#9   Be able to be broken for Christ.

#10  Be a sacrifice with my life, talents and gifts.

Things TO BE Before I Die #10: Be a sacrifice with my life, talents, and gifts.

My TO BE List Countdown

AKA Things TO BE Before I Die

#10: Be a sacrifice with my life, talents, and gifts.

When I think about being a sacrifice, I think about taking all the “it’s all about me” out of my life. Maybe you’re familiar with:

·         I don’t have time for this.

·         I don’t know how to do that.

·         I’d rather not.

·         Or my favorite—I can’t.

Most of us are selfish with our time, talents, and gifts. We don’t look at them as things we can give away, but things we need to keep close. Take talents and gifts, for instance. When was the last time you sat down and listed all the talents and gifts God has given you? I don’t mean physical things like houses, cars, and boats. I’m talking about things you can do better than most people. Gifts like speaking, playing music, creating artwork, or practicing hospitality. When was the last time you used your gifts?

I remember a new couple in our church who sat close to me during Sunday services. The wife’s voice was beautiful, so clear and had perfect pitch. One Sunday I asked her if she ever thought about doing solos or singing in our choir. “Oh, no! I couldn’t do that,” she said. When I asked her why not she said she became too nervous in front of people. I didn’t let up on her. I prayed about it, kept asking her, and eventually she gave in. That Sunday our church heard the most beautiful music from a pure voice that was a gift from God. Saying, “I can’t,” truly limits God’s use of your gifts and talents. If He gave you the voice, He will give you the ability to use it!

You would think at 65  I have learned just about everything there is to know about myself, my gifts and talents; but you’d be wrong. Every single day I’ve learned to open my life up to God’s leading. If He shows me a new gift, talent, or ability that I can use for His Kingdom, then I just stand amazed again and find a way to use it! So many of us are just not thinking about letting God use us for anything! If someone gave you a million dollars, you wouldn’t hide it in your dresser and never use it, would you? No, you’d spend it freely on whatever you needed. That’s what God’s gifts to us are. They are the million dollar gift that is meant to be spent and used up!

Romans 12:6 “Having then gifts differing according to the grace that is given to us, let us use them…” (NKJV)

Stay tuned in the upcoming weeks to see my other top nine Things TO BE Before I Die!