Gifts and sin

We have each been gifted with doing certain things well. But this proves to be a double-edged sword, as our gift and our sin are flip sides of the same coin. Our ability to bring life and goodness into the world misses the mark when it gets overextended or otherwise misapplied.

For instance, someone who is focused and determined can quickly become self-absorbed and stubborn when out of balance. Likewise, helping can become enabling, empathy can become people pleasing, and knowledge can lead to pride. 

To be sure, our problem is not the gift itself. And we should not hold it back or play it safe just because of the potential risk involved.  This becomes its own sin when we fail to cultivate and generously offer the strength God has given us. All the same, we should take wisdom with us and not let the brightness of our gifts blind us to the shadow side also present.

God created for six days and rested on the seventh. In the same way, we should be diligent in offering our gifts while allowing for regular times to rest. We work hard while still finding time to play, help others without the burden of doing it all ourselves, and offer our insights while humbly remaining a teachable student as well. Whatever it looks like, taking a break from constantly offering our gift allows us to receive the gifts of others and keeps us more alert to the possibility of overextending ourselves.

Our sin becomes our most defining feature without this discernment and practice. We’re not being malicious, but we still cause harm when we don’t have the maturity to filter our gift to the present need.

In the end, freely offer your gifts without becoming blind to its shadow side. Your gift can quickly become a sin when it’s misapplied and not kept within its proper bounds. 

Photo by Eddie Kopp on Unsplash

The post Gifts and sin appeared first on Dr. Corey Carlisle.