A man’s gift makes room for him,
And brings him before great men.
– Proverbs 18:16
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I have read the Bible through from end to end many times including this verse, but one day it jumped out at me, and as I began to study it, it quickly became one of my favourites.
One of the first things you need to understand is that God has given you gifts to use for His glory. Yes, you!!! You may be thinking to yourself, “I am not important enough for God to give me a gift, skill, or a talent.”
God created you for the purpose of His Kingdom going forward. He has enabled you to reach people that no one else can, and it is the giftings He has given to you that accomplishes it. Romans 12:6 says, “having then gifts differing according to the grace that is given to us, let us use them.”
Second, you need to understand that your giftings are unique to you. Don’t look at what someone else can do and wish that was you.
You may think your talent is weird and unpopular, but sometimes it is those of us who feel like we have the least to give who accomplish great things for God. Look at Gideon (Judges 6). Everyone judged him and thought he was a coward because he hid away in a winepress in order to thresh wheat in safety. You know what God saw? Someone who would not give up and would think outside of the box to survive and defy the enemy.
The enemy of our souls wants to make you feel like your gift is useless and that there is no way that your gift can make a difference. Your gift does make a difference.
The other thing to understand is that God’s economy is not the same as that of this corrupt world system. In Matthew 10:42, Jesus says, “And whoever gives one of these little ones only a cup of cold water in the name of a disciple, assuredly, I say to you, he shall by no means lose his reward.” If you gift is to give a cup of cold water in love to someone who needs it, you are advancing the Kingdom of God.
The enemy tells you that you need to be rich and famous to make a difference; God says to love Him and your neighbour and you are fulfilling your role on the earth. I think of Billy Graham. As far as we know, the woman who led him to Christ led no one else to Him, but look at the impact Billy and his family have had on the world. You can’t see the ripple effect of your actions, but God does.
So how does your gift make room for you and bring you before great men? The more you use your gift, the bigger it gets. It is like a well-toned muscle that gets stronger and more powerful each time it is tested. Over time as you become excellent in your gift, it gets noticed by others, and as you prove trustworthy, God will open doors for you that you could never imagine.
I am in a situation right now where God has opened a door for me to witness to a famous person and it is a humbling experience because I think to myself, “Who am I to be a witness to this person?” And God says to me, “I have gifted you to show My love in unique ways, and you have been faithful even when it was weird, wacky and uncomfortable. This man needs a unique form of My love, and I know that you will be obedient to show it.”
So, can I ask something of you? Pray for me because so many days I don’t feel up to the task and there are days just like you where I fail. So that is the last point. Just because you may fail every once in a while, you don’t get disqualified. God is the God of second, third, fourth, fifth, gazillionth chances. His patience is eternal, and He never gives up on you.
So, what are you waiting for? Get out there and use your gifts to God’s glory and don’t forget to thank the One who gave them to you.
~ By Kim Thompson-Pinder
Related posts
- How I Discovered I Had a Gift at the Age of 40
- The 9 Spiritual Gifts Explained
- How to Identify Your God-Given Talents
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Comments(47)
Kimberli says
May 6, 2018 at 1:48 pmI love this I received it great on time read🙌🎨
Stephanie says
October 9, 2018 at 11:44 amProphetic!
ALADEKOMO OLUREMI ALFRED says
November 29, 2023 at 1:03 pmTo have faith at this end time call for God’s grace, and constance reading the example of the Apostles kind of faith. This will encourage us to stand and believe that God that do it then, is able to do it now.
Alice Markapa Talvat says
August 2, 2018 at 2:03 amPowerful
Joseph Kimogele says
August 26, 2018 at 12:25 pmInspirational, surely even you posting this is a ripple effect at least to me, maybe God increase you abundantly✊.
Daniel says
October 18, 2018 at 3:15 amDetailed. I have always wondered what his verse meant since the first day I read of it in the Bible. Today 18th day I decided to read the 18th book of proverb and came across it again. Check the internet to be clearifed and can across your blog. Well explained thanks and God bless.
Malatte says
November 27, 2018 at 11:15 pmThis was awesome! I will definitely pray for you 🙂
ERICKA GRAY says
March 1, 2019 at 1:27 pmALL I CAN SAY IS THANK YOU AND THIS WAS RIGHT ON TIME FOR ME AND MY SISTER IN CHRIST ! WHAT A GREAT REMINDER AND A GREAT BOOST FROM GOD !!! I PRAY GOD BLESS YOU MS. KIM !
Yvonne Richardson-Joseph says
April 19, 2019 at 11:20 pmHeard it today at our Good Friday Service. It struck a cord within me. I decided to research it. Thank you for the explanation. Continue to use your gifts for the Lord!!
Samwel Limo says
May 18, 2019 at 5:29 pmI didn’t know this was a verse in the bible, but I knew of the phase. Our God is awesome, with the gift he directs our steps and lead us to the future he has in store for us. All glory be to God as I use my gift in the Auto Industry. I see doors opening already.
Teresa Loving says
May 26, 2019 at 6:49 pmAwesome Article! It was right on time!🙏🙌
Aklie says
July 7, 2023 at 1:37 pmYah I always love the presentsound lord
Raymond Mitchem says
June 20, 2019 at 11:32 amVery inspirational and encouraging. Continue to allow God, by His awesome power, to use you in your gifted area each day.
God Bless and Keep You ❤️
LaQuita says
July 19, 2019 at 5:15 amThanking God for you. A great word at the right time. May God bless and keep you and make His face shine upon you.
Fedelis Arrey says
October 3, 2019 at 7:31 amYour article has brighten or enlighten my scope on this subject of Gift.
Thank You very much
Glody Nsimba says
December 8, 2019 at 9:07 amGift is more important in my love
I really appreciate thanks for your message
agapÉ Diego says
May 9, 2022 at 8:06 pmI humbly coordinate Medical Brigades although I’m not a doctor.
Because of this several mayors and federal congresspersons have accepted Jesus!!!
Brian says
December 11, 2019 at 10:05 amThis is straight 🔥🔥🔥 thanks
Anozie frank says
January 13, 2020 at 6:56 amAm blessed to have read this article, may God inspire you more to motivate nations.
Brit-Brat(Pope) says
February 4, 2020 at 12:44 pmThanks so much! Much needed reminder. Pray my strength to endure, and to keep going knowing that the God that we serve loves us and will give us chance after chance to advance his Kingdom. #Kingdom agenda! #We are Glory carriers!
Janna says
March 3, 2020 at 8:02 pmIt’s a lovely concept. But isn’t the verse actually talking about a literal gift? An offering? Not a talent or ‘gifting’? It’s what you’re willing to give and how you honour people that opens doors.
Melanie says
January 5, 2023 at 11:34 pmIt actually does mean gift as in ability look at the parable of the talents which also means $ or abilities..we can give either way and then look at Joseph which so powerfully shows his gift of interpreting dreams brought him before Pharoah…🙏💕
Nanette says
February 6, 2023 at 8:38 amHope this helps 🦋
For just as each of us has one body with many members, and these members do not all have the same function, so in Christ we, though many, form one body, and each member belongs to all the others. We have different gifts, according to the grace given to each of us. If your gift is prophesying, then prophesy in accordance with your faith; if it is serving, then serve; if it is teaching, then teach; if it is to encourage, then give encouragement; if it is giving, then give generously; if it is to lead, do it diligently; if it is to show mercy, do it cheerfully. ~Romans 12:4-8 NIV
Tony says
September 22, 2023 at 10:18 amExactly. In the concept and culture which this passage is founded on, you are 100% correct!
C-R. says
April 13, 2020 at 2:32 amThanks much for the post!
On the topic of being rich & famous: some of us God will use riches and fame to reach a larger & specific crowd of people, such as with Justin Bieber, Kanye West, & Steph Curry, Mark Burnett, Jeremy Lin, & Dwight Howard. I can also attest to this, personally, as The Lord has enabled me to minister to several people, who I otherwise wouldn’t be able to, through my passion for driving & racing exotic cars, and being connected into other aspects of the “lux life”.
Of course, ALL of The Glory goes to Him, being that I wouldn’t be where I am if it wasn’t for His Love & Unmerited Favor (aka Grace) that flows through THE BLESSING of Abraham at work in my life, because of my Lord & Savior (ref: Galatians 3:29).
Camri Bell says
July 24, 2020 at 6:46 amAmen😘🙌🏾, God bless me and Glo’s Soul Food 👩🏽🍳🤗‼️
Regina Coleman says
October 16, 2020 at 3:34 pmWow 😘 I read through the article, awesome. By the spirit that’s in me I grade it excellent! Also know I prayed for you .
Thank you for answering the call of God for your life. Never give up’ Love❤️
Angela says
November 2, 2020 at 1:58 amSooo. Here I am lying in the bed not able to fall off to sleep, thinking about whether or not it is time to move on to another church. I feel stymied, and I see others coming into my church and shortly thereafter moving into positions of leadership. I feel as if I am moving backwards. When I ask certain questions for clarification, I get roundabout answers and avoidance… Or just ignored.
There is so much that I like about my church, but I’m feeling rejection once again and that maybe it’s time to move on. I know this is the work of the enemy but I can’t understand why it continues to happen to me in the church. This should not be so.
I am always very prayerful before I make a move and make sure that I have heard clearly from the Lord. That is what I am doing this night and this scripture came to mind. My giftings are not being fully utilized at my church. I feel sometimes like I have been put out to pasture. I am sure God will tell me what to do, as He always has, and His perfect timing… Praying and waiting…
Millicent says
January 21, 2022 at 9:35 amI have an old lady at the lord’s pentecostal church.her coming to church alone is a ripple effects on the entire church.yours may just to encourage others.there are gifts that work behind the scenes,keep praying
Pamela Isenhour says
October 16, 2022 at 1:02 amYou’re absolutely correct about God’s timing. Very hard for us earthlings, however, it truly is perfect. Wished all earthlings were believers!!
Duncan says
November 26, 2020 at 2:13 pmPersonally I think that equating “gift” in this verse with “gift” in the sense of a spritual gift is quite a theological leap. It seems fairly clear that the original readers would have understood it in terms of bribery and flattery. As the Good News puts it, extracting the sense of the verse rather than the literal translation, “Do you want to meet an important person? Take a gift and it will be easy.”
Napoleon says
January 14, 2021 at 4:31 amI read two Bible teachers before reading this , two of them all talk about gift as a present, but surprised you talked about it as talent , anointing or spiritual gifts.
Charpaul says
November 23, 2021 at 1:38 amWow !! Well I enjoyed reading this.
Nanette says
February 6, 2023 at 8:41 amThank you 🦋
Rev. Catina says
August 17, 2022 at 1:40 pmExcellent read! Thank you for sharing.
Tonya says
November 1, 2022 at 6:28 amAbsolutely awesome! On point! Right on time! God bless your gift to minister in written form.
Hendrik Botha says
December 8, 2022 at 6:08 amGreat word. Amen!!@
Mia says
December 24, 2022 at 8:46 amThank you for being obedient to letting God work through you to share this message. It was right on time!
Michal says
January 5, 2023 at 5:39 pmThank you!
Natasha says
January 13, 2023 at 11:49 amThis article was so on point this morning. Anointed and packed with confirmations. Thank you so much!
Sister Stephanie says
March 1, 2023 at 8:30 amIt is very hard for me to get anyone to make room for me to serve in my local church. So I do nothing at local church. I asked and got the silent treatment. I was wondering how do I do this? Am I in the wrong place or is this a normal process for a child of God? How long is acceptable to sit and wait for opportunity to serve at local church? I watch others joyfully serve. I now cry every morning. It hurts. I do not know if I just have to give it more time.
Dauda Garba says
April 11, 2023 at 12:16 amThis is so powerful, never new there’s a verse like that.
Esther Furlonge says
May 30, 2023 at 8:52 amMore grace to you in Jesus Name
Thank you so much for this powerful post
It came at the right time .
God bless you
Shalom
Joann says
August 19, 2023 at 8:09 amThank you so much for posting this. It came right on time. I have prayed for you. May God richly bless you for sharing this wisdom.
Maa afia. Owusua says
September 5, 2023 at 5:12 amWaoooo! Wonderful .I am refreshed now with my spiritual gifts and will use them with much confidence and faith now .( Thanks.ahuga ..medaase.)
Olabisi says
December 18, 2023 at 2:28 amWow thanks for sharing the heart of God it resonates with my study . Thank you Lord .
Emmanuel Eteng says
April 19, 2024 at 7:14 amDeliberating on Prov. 18:16 which says the gift of a man makes way for him before the great.
My question therefore can our material possessions (offerings and sacrifices) be likened to be a gift to the Lord in this context?
Already from your view it’s gift is restricted to be inherent abilities . please I need your response
Regards.