Whatever you do, do well
What's in Your Hand? Using God's Gifts for His Glory
Have you ever looked at what you have and thought it wasn't enough? Perhaps you've glanced at your talents, your resources, or your circumstances and wondered how God could possibly use them for anything significant. If so, you're not alone. Throughout history, ordinary people have struggled with the same doubts, only to discover that when surrendered to God, the insignificant becomes miraculous.
The Power of Perseverance
Consider Abraham Lincoln, who faced failure after failure—a failed store, lost elections, and countless setbacks. Or Albert Einstein, dismissed as a slow learner and fired from teaching positions. Both men persevered through roadblocks that would have stopped most people in their tracks. They didn't let their circumstances define their destiny.
As believers, we have something even more powerful than personal determination. God equips every Christian with everything needed to thrive in this life. Through the Holy Spirit, we receive gifts and abilities uniquely designed for us. The question isn't whether we have what we need—it's whether we'll use what God has given us.
The Biblical Mandate: Whatever You Do, Do Well
Ecclesiastes 9:10 offers a simple yet profound instruction: "Whatever you do, do well." Not some things. Not the easy things. Everything.
This principle should permeate every area of life. As Christians, we should be the most dedicated employees, showing up on time, working diligently, and serving without complaint. We should be the neighbors who go the extra mile, the family members who love unconditionally, and the church members who serve faithfully.
One business owner shared how he preferred hiring individuals from a particular faith tradition—not his own—because they consistently demonstrated strong work ethic and reliability. Meanwhile, some who claimed to follow Christ called in sick while posting on social media, arrived late regularly, and made excuses. What a tragic testimony! Our work, our attitude, and our faithfulness speak volumes about the God we serve.
The Enemy's Strategy: Keeping You Sidelined
The devil has a vested interest in keeping believers from using their God-given gifts. He doesn't need to steal your talents; he simply needs to prevent you from using them for God's glory. His tactics are varied and effective:
Fear paralyzes us from stepping out in faith. Yet Scripture repeatedly commands us not to be afraid. The only fear we should cultivate is a reverent awe of God Himself.
Discouragement acts like a wedge driven into the cracks of our lives. Just as a woodsman looks for splits in a log to drive in a wedge (sometimes called a "go-devil"), the enemy searches for vulnerable places in our hearts. He hammers away at those weak points until we're split wide open, leaving church, abandoning our calling, or simply giving up.
Self-pity keeps us focused on what we lack rather than what God has provided. Walking around with a perpetual "poochy lip" blinds us to the blessings surrounding us and the opportunities before us.
The enemy uses real hurts and perceived slights to discourage us, to make us feel inadequate, and to convince us that what we have isn't enough.
Heroes Who Used What They Had
Samson and the Jawbone
Samson, set apart as a Nazirite and blessed with supernatural strength, faced a thousand Philistine warriors. His weapon? A jawbone. Not a sword, not a spear, not even a proper club—just the jawbone of a donkey.
It wasn't the jawbone that brought victory. It was the man willing to let God use what was in his hand, no matter how insignificant it seemed. Samson's willingness to surrender his gift to God's purposes resulted in miraculous deliverance for Israel.
The Widow and Her Last Meal
During a devastating famine, the prophet Elijah encountered a widow gathering sticks. She had only enough flour and oil to make one final meal for herself and her son before they would die of starvation.
Elijah's request seemed outrageous: "Make me a cake first."
Imagine being asked to give away your last morsel when you're facing death. Yet this woman believed. She trusted. She gave what little she had to God's servant, and God multiplied her meal and oil. Her cupboards didn't just have enough—they overflowed until the famine ended.
The principle is clear: when we give to others, we're giving to God. And God multiplies what we surrender to Him.
Hannah and Her Promised Son
Hannah prayed desperately for a child, making a vow that if God gave her a son, she would dedicate him to the Lord's service. God answered, giving her Samuel.
Can you imagine the struggle? After years of barrenness and heartache, Hannah finally held her promised child. The natural response would be to cling tightly, to protect, to keep this precious gift close.
Instead, Hannah kept her vow. She surrendered Samuel to God's service, and through that surrender, God raised up one of Israel's greatest prophets.
Sometimes we wrap our arms so tightly around the blessings God gives us—our families, our careers, our dreams—that we forget they belong to Him. God must pry our fingers loose so He can use these gifts for His greater purposes.
David and His Slingshot
When the giant Goliath taunted Israel's army, seasoned warriors cowered in fear. But a shepherd boy named David stepped forward. His brothers mocked him. King Saul dismissed him. The world laughed at this ruddy-faced youth.
David's confidence wasn't in his weapon or his size. He declared to Goliath: "You come to me with sword and with a spear and with a javelin, but I come to you in the name of the Lord of hosts, the God of the armies of Israel."
With a simple slingshot, David felled the giant. The world may ridicule what God has placed in your hands, but when surrendered to Him, even the smallest offering defeats the greatest giants.
God First in Everything
Many of us learned to prioritize our lives: God first, family second, church third, work fourth. While well-intentioned, this framework misses the mark.
God doesn't want to be first on a list. He wants to be first in everything. First in our families. First in our work. First in our church involvement. First in our finances. First in every decision, every relationship, every moment.
This distinction transforms how we live. We don't compartmentalize our faith; we integrate it into every aspect of life.
The Cost of Surrender
Perhaps you're thinking, "But what God has given me has caused great pain. Why would a loving God give gifts that bring suffering?"
Consider Jesus Himself. The Son of God had no place to lay His head. He was ridiculed, rejected by His own family, and ultimately crucified. When Thomas doubted the resurrection, Jesus invited him to touch the nail prints in His hands and the wound in His side.
Jesus didn't consider the cost too great or the pain too much to bear for our salvation. He endured suffering to perfect us, to redeem us, to bring us home.
If you're experiencing pain through the gifts God has given you, spend time gazing at those nail-scarred hands. Realize that through suffering comes perfection, through pain comes purpose, and through surrender comes victory.
The Call to Surrender
Surrender isn't a popular concept in our culture. We're taught to fight, to never give up, to maintain control. But God calls us to a different kind of strength—the strength found in complete surrender to Him.
What does surrender look like? Imagine someone pointing a gun at you and demanding, "Put your hands up!" Your natural response would be to raise your hands in the air—a universal sign of giving up, of relinquishing control.
That's what God asks of us. Hands up. I give up. I surrender control of my life, my gifts, my future to You.
Have you made a mess of things trying to do life your way? Have you held too tightly to what God wants to use? Are you sick and tired of being sick and tired?
It's time to let go and let God.
Little Is Much When God Is In It
The world measures success by size, influence, and power. God measures faithfulness by surrender, obedience, and trust.
Your gift may seem insignificant—like a jawbone, a handful of meal, or a slingshot. But when placed in God's hands, the insignificant becomes miraculous. The impossible becomes possible. The ordinary becomes extraordinary.
Whatever you do, do it well. Not in your own strength, but by surrendering what you have to the One who gave it to you in the first place.
God isn't looking for perfect people with perfect gifts. He's looking for willing hearts ready to say, "Here I am, Lord. Use what You've given me for Your glory."
The question isn't whether you have enough. The question is whether you'll surrender what you have to the God who multiplies, transforms, and redeems all things for His purposes.
What's in your hand today? Whatever it is, it's enough when you place it in His.
Have you ever looked at what you have and thought it wasn't enough? Perhaps you've glanced at your talents, your resources, or your circumstances and wondered how God could possibly use them for anything significant. If so, you're not alone. Throughout history, ordinary people have struggled with the same doubts, only to discover that when surrendered to God, the insignificant becomes miraculous.
The Power of Perseverance
Consider Abraham Lincoln, who faced failure after failure—a failed store, lost elections, and countless setbacks. Or Albert Einstein, dismissed as a slow learner and fired from teaching positions. Both men persevered through roadblocks that would have stopped most people in their tracks. They didn't let their circumstances define their destiny.
As believers, we have something even more powerful than personal determination. God equips every Christian with everything needed to thrive in this life. Through the Holy Spirit, we receive gifts and abilities uniquely designed for us. The question isn't whether we have what we need—it's whether we'll use what God has given us.
The Biblical Mandate: Whatever You Do, Do Well
Ecclesiastes 9:10 offers a simple yet profound instruction: "Whatever you do, do well." Not some things. Not the easy things. Everything.
This principle should permeate every area of life. As Christians, we should be the most dedicated employees, showing up on time, working diligently, and serving without complaint. We should be the neighbors who go the extra mile, the family members who love unconditionally, and the church members who serve faithfully.
One business owner shared how he preferred hiring individuals from a particular faith tradition—not his own—because they consistently demonstrated strong work ethic and reliability. Meanwhile, some who claimed to follow Christ called in sick while posting on social media, arrived late regularly, and made excuses. What a tragic testimony! Our work, our attitude, and our faithfulness speak volumes about the God we serve.
The Enemy's Strategy: Keeping You Sidelined
The devil has a vested interest in keeping believers from using their God-given gifts. He doesn't need to steal your talents; he simply needs to prevent you from using them for God's glory. His tactics are varied and effective:
Fear paralyzes us from stepping out in faith. Yet Scripture repeatedly commands us not to be afraid. The only fear we should cultivate is a reverent awe of God Himself.
Discouragement acts like a wedge driven into the cracks of our lives. Just as a woodsman looks for splits in a log to drive in a wedge (sometimes called a "go-devil"), the enemy searches for vulnerable places in our hearts. He hammers away at those weak points until we're split wide open, leaving church, abandoning our calling, or simply giving up.
Self-pity keeps us focused on what we lack rather than what God has provided. Walking around with a perpetual "poochy lip" blinds us to the blessings surrounding us and the opportunities before us.
The enemy uses real hurts and perceived slights to discourage us, to make us feel inadequate, and to convince us that what we have isn't enough.
Heroes Who Used What They Had
Samson and the Jawbone
Samson, set apart as a Nazirite and blessed with supernatural strength, faced a thousand Philistine warriors. His weapon? A jawbone. Not a sword, not a spear, not even a proper club—just the jawbone of a donkey.
It wasn't the jawbone that brought victory. It was the man willing to let God use what was in his hand, no matter how insignificant it seemed. Samson's willingness to surrender his gift to God's purposes resulted in miraculous deliverance for Israel.
The Widow and Her Last Meal
During a devastating famine, the prophet Elijah encountered a widow gathering sticks. She had only enough flour and oil to make one final meal for herself and her son before they would die of starvation.
Elijah's request seemed outrageous: "Make me a cake first."
Imagine being asked to give away your last morsel when you're facing death. Yet this woman believed. She trusted. She gave what little she had to God's servant, and God multiplied her meal and oil. Her cupboards didn't just have enough—they overflowed until the famine ended.
The principle is clear: when we give to others, we're giving to God. And God multiplies what we surrender to Him.
Hannah and Her Promised Son
Hannah prayed desperately for a child, making a vow that if God gave her a son, she would dedicate him to the Lord's service. God answered, giving her Samuel.
Can you imagine the struggle? After years of barrenness and heartache, Hannah finally held her promised child. The natural response would be to cling tightly, to protect, to keep this precious gift close.
Instead, Hannah kept her vow. She surrendered Samuel to God's service, and through that surrender, God raised up one of Israel's greatest prophets.
Sometimes we wrap our arms so tightly around the blessings God gives us—our families, our careers, our dreams—that we forget they belong to Him. God must pry our fingers loose so He can use these gifts for His greater purposes.
David and His Slingshot
When the giant Goliath taunted Israel's army, seasoned warriors cowered in fear. But a shepherd boy named David stepped forward. His brothers mocked him. King Saul dismissed him. The world laughed at this ruddy-faced youth.
David's confidence wasn't in his weapon or his size. He declared to Goliath: "You come to me with sword and with a spear and with a javelin, but I come to you in the name of the Lord of hosts, the God of the armies of Israel."
With a simple slingshot, David felled the giant. The world may ridicule what God has placed in your hands, but when surrendered to Him, even the smallest offering defeats the greatest giants.
God First in Everything
Many of us learned to prioritize our lives: God first, family second, church third, work fourth. While well-intentioned, this framework misses the mark.
God doesn't want to be first on a list. He wants to be first in everything. First in our families. First in our work. First in our church involvement. First in our finances. First in every decision, every relationship, every moment.
This distinction transforms how we live. We don't compartmentalize our faith; we integrate it into every aspect of life.
The Cost of Surrender
Perhaps you're thinking, "But what God has given me has caused great pain. Why would a loving God give gifts that bring suffering?"
Consider Jesus Himself. The Son of God had no place to lay His head. He was ridiculed, rejected by His own family, and ultimately crucified. When Thomas doubted the resurrection, Jesus invited him to touch the nail prints in His hands and the wound in His side.
Jesus didn't consider the cost too great or the pain too much to bear for our salvation. He endured suffering to perfect us, to redeem us, to bring us home.
If you're experiencing pain through the gifts God has given you, spend time gazing at those nail-scarred hands. Realize that through suffering comes perfection, through pain comes purpose, and through surrender comes victory.
The Call to Surrender
Surrender isn't a popular concept in our culture. We're taught to fight, to never give up, to maintain control. But God calls us to a different kind of strength—the strength found in complete surrender to Him.
What does surrender look like? Imagine someone pointing a gun at you and demanding, "Put your hands up!" Your natural response would be to raise your hands in the air—a universal sign of giving up, of relinquishing control.
That's what God asks of us. Hands up. I give up. I surrender control of my life, my gifts, my future to You.
Have you made a mess of things trying to do life your way? Have you held too tightly to what God wants to use? Are you sick and tired of being sick and tired?
It's time to let go and let God.
Little Is Much When God Is In It
The world measures success by size, influence, and power. God measures faithfulness by surrender, obedience, and trust.
Your gift may seem insignificant—like a jawbone, a handful of meal, or a slingshot. But when placed in God's hands, the insignificant becomes miraculous. The impossible becomes possible. The ordinary becomes extraordinary.
Whatever you do, do it well. Not in your own strength, but by surrendering what you have to the One who gave it to you in the first place.
God isn't looking for perfect people with perfect gifts. He's looking for willing hearts ready to say, "Here I am, Lord. Use what You've given me for Your glory."
The question isn't whether you have enough. The question is whether you'll surrender what you have to the God who multiplies, transforms, and redeems all things for His purposes.
What's in your hand today? Whatever it is, it's enough when you place it in His.
Recent
Archive
2026
Categories
no categories
No Comments