CELEBRATING GOD’S GIFTS

“Beware, lest you say in your heart, my power and the might of my hand have gotten me this wealth. You shall remember the LORD your God, for, it is he who gives you power to get wealth, that he may confirm His covenant that he swore to your fathers, as it is this day.(Deuteronomy 8: 17 & 18).
Today we give all the glory and adoration to God Almighty as we celebrate our professionals. The Oxford Advanced learner’s Dictionary defines a professional thus:- “A person who does a job that needs special training and high level of education”.
The temptation is always there for professionals to attribute their success to their training, diligence, perseverance, character and other human attributes that is considered necessary for success.  Some people are lucky to have had good parental support that helped them get to where they are today while others had to struggle through thick and thin to make it to where they are. This last category are often referred to as “self-made-people”. Biblically, no one is “self made” or “parent-made”. The truth is that God in His grace had pre-determined what we would be before we were born. “Before I formed you in the womb I knew you; and before you were born, I consecrated you and appointed you a prophet to the nations. (Jeremiah 1: 5).

Bezalel and Oholiab were professionals in craft making. They excelled not just because of their training but because God anointed them.  “The Lord spoke to Moses, see, I have called by name Bezalel son of Uri son of Hur of the tribe of Judah and I have filled him with divine spirit, with ability, intelligence and knowledge in every kind of craft to devise artistic designs, to work in gold, silver and bronze.   (Exodus 31: 2).
What makes us professionals are God’s predetermined appointments even before we were born; therefore it is wrong for anyone to arrogate to himself, the ability to “make it”. It is because some people have said it in their hearts “my power and might have gotten me this wealth” that they forget to give thanks to God.
God has called all of us by names and has also given us divine spirit, that is why where others failed we succeeded. Our success is based purely on God’s grace. Mark God’s words to Zerubabel: “Zerubabel you will succeed, not by might nor power but by my spirit”. (Zechariah 4: 6).
What makes us professionals today, is not just our special training according to our dictionary definition but God’s free and gracious gifts. These gifts were not meant for selfish use but for the benefit of others and to the glory of God. “The gifts he gave were that some would be apostles, some prophets, some pastors, some evangelists, some teachers to equip the saints (believers) for the work of ministry for building up the body of Christ (the church) (Ephesians 4: 11).
For each of us, the gifts God blessed us with are “for the work of the ministry for building up the body of Christ”.  This church over the years has intervened in mission fields and in empowering the weak and vulnerable.  This was possible through the contributions of the members and friends of this church.  With large-scale unemployment, the church is embarking on setting up the unemployed for self sustainance.  It is also building facilities for training our youths, children and women.  As you give generously today, the Lord will extend His love to many and thereby reduce the insecurity in our land arising from poverty
As we file out today to celebrate God’s love, we must thank God for giving us the ability and opportunity to give. Our prayer is that God will endow us with the spirit that would make us mindful not to arrogate to ourselves, the ability to make wealth because it is only God that teaches our fingers to make wealth.
Have a joyful celebration as you help the church extend God’s love to the needy who could be a problem to us as a nation.

Your brother, Vicar & Archdeacon
Igein Isemede