Recently, I spoke with a friend who attended several concerts and musical lectures about the life and amazing talents of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart.
Mozart was a prolific and influential composer of the classical era and was considered a child prodigy. At the age of five, Mozart was composing his own music. He composed over 600 works during his short life of just 35 years. My friend will always maintain a sense of awe when considering a composers ability to hear abstract musical melodies and then integrate them into stanzas played by multiple instruments.
A teacher joined our conversation and mentioned Gardner’s theory of Multiple Intelligences. Gardner theorizes that people do not have just an intellectual capacity, but have many kinds of intelligence, including musical, interpersonal, spatial-visual, and linguistic intelligences. We are all uniquely made by God and given different gifts. These talents are to be used to glorify God and bless others.
“ As each one has received a gift, minister it to one another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God. If anyone speaks, let him speak as the oracles of God. If anyone ministers, let him do it as with the ability which God supplies, that in all things God may be glorified through Jesus Christ, to whom belong the glory and the dominion forever and ever. Amen.” 1 Peter 4:10-11 (NKJV)
God gave you a fingerprint that no one else has, so you can leave an imprint that no one else can. ~Unknown
I marvel at God’s creativity. No two snowflakes are alike. No two fingerprints are the same. As long as babies are born, we will find unique personalities, gifts, and aptitudes.
Although we might compare our gifts with one another, we need to remember we were perfectly and wonderfully made. It’s fine to appreciate the musical prodigy, mathematical genius, and poet but beware of any feelings of envy. God knew exactly what He was doing when He knit us together. He gave us every gift necessary to accomplish the work we were designed for.
“For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them.” Ephesians 2:10 (NKJV)
“For You formed my inward parts; You covered me in my mother’s womb. 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 (NKJV)
Consider this, did David compare his size and soldiering skills to the giant Goliath? Probably. Did it stop him from accomplishing God’s will and purpose? No. Faith carried David. His faith in God’s power allowed him to defeat that mighty giant.
Rachel and Leah were always comparing their lot in life. Each woman had God’s favor at different times. Each woman had individual gifts, which were used to bless others and glorify God. They had different fingerprints. God selected both of them to birth children who would eventually become the 12 tribes of Israel.
Today, and every day, let’s celebrate our unique talents and seek ways to use them to bless others and glorify God.