Preface: Non-gamers, please do not fear! Though this series draws upon lessons learned while gaming, they are readily grasped and hopefully encouraging and helpful to all!
My favorite video game of all time is Age of Empires 2. Through the course of the game you are able to create, control, and upgrade a number of different units. Some units have strong attack (swordsman), some units are fast (knights), some units have ranged attack (archer), and some units have slow but massive attack (battering rams). And these are just a few, there are other types beyond those, and for each type sometimes several versions. My personal favorites are paladins (powerful knights) and bombard cannons. Once an opponent is worn out, this combo can just walk through their civilization wreaking havoc.
Furthermore, you must choose a specific civilization (e.g. Japanese or Mayans), and each civ lacks some basic units and has a special unique unit. As I grew in my ability to play the game, my understanding of the strengths of each civilization grew. A good player approaches the game slightly differently depending upon whether they’re the Persians or the Chinese because it’s best to play to the strengths of your civ.
And that is a lesson that is true beyond the video game.
Lesson #2: Play to Your Strengths
Let me be clear, I’m all for being well-rounded. I went to a liberal arts school, and I didn’t bemoan the various general education requirements (e.g. aesthetic expression and modern language). It’s important for us to be flexible and able to serve however God calls us. But it is also important to recognize that we are each unique, designed by God with a special personality/gift set, and designed that way on purpose. God doesn’t use a random generator as He designs us! There’s a reason you’re musical or athletic or easily able to host. God wants to use those abilities!
I will praise You, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made;
Marvelous are Your works,
And that my soul knows very well.
My frame was not hidden from You,
When I was made in secret,
And skillfully wrought in the lowest parts of the earth.
Your eyes saw my substance, being yet unformed.
And in Your book they all were written,
The days fashioned for me,
When as yet there were none of them. (Psalm 139:13-16.)
God made you on purpose; He designed you for something. And the abilities you have aren’t unrelated. God gave you gifts for a reason.
For example, I’ve discovered that I’m not an administrator. Paperwork, deadlines, managing things…these aren’t just difficult, they sap me of seemingly all energy. I’m not sure how many gifted administrators there are in the world, but I’m glad they exist because I can’t do that thing! Of course, when I have something to administrate I try to do it well, and I use lots of tools (e.g. I always set multiple SMS reminders for meetings and have over 40 important unread emails which is one version of a to do list).
But I’m not going to try to become the world’s most in control administrator. It’s not what God designed me to do! I have clear strengths and callings, and that isn’t one of them.
Just like in Age of Empires, if we want to do well, it behooves us to recognize that God designed us for a reason with specific abilities. Let’s play to our strengths!
So take a moment and consider what your gifts are. Also, what are the strengths of others in your group? And how can you allow these to flourish in ministry?
For further study, consider this conversation in light of 1 Corinthians 12:12-26.
photo credit: Robbie Grubbs via photopin cc