“Just Because a Fish Can’t Climb a Tree, Doesn’t Mean He’s Dumb!”

“Having then gifts differing according to the grace that is given to us,”

Romans 12:6

What a thought-provoking statement. I heard this quote for the first time years ago and immediately wrote it down for further investigation. I found that the actual quote is “Everybody is a genius. But, if you judge a fish by its ability to climb a tree, it will spend its whole life believing that it is stupid.” ~Albert Einstein.

“Now there are diversities of gifts, but the same Spirit. And there are differences of administrations, but the same Lord. And there are diversities of operations, but it is the same God which worketh all in all. But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to every man to profit withal.”

I Corinthians 12:4-7

Do you see the highlighted words in the verse above? It says, “every man.” I've heard many people say, but I don't have any talents that I can use for the Lord, but this verse clearly states that “every person” does and if we say we don't, that makes God a liar. I don't think any of us would be so bold as to call God a liar. So, I guess we better rethink our thoughts, right?

I’ve always found it interesting and intriguing how different people’s talents can be. I have always envied people who can just sit at the piano and make it sing. But that was not one of my talents. (Although in my mind and my dreams, I sound like a concert pianist. You should hear me play “How Great Thou Art” in my

dreams!) One person’s talent or strong point might be another’s weak point. Thank God that He knew what He was doing when He designed each one of us different and with differing talents. Wouldn’t it be a mess if we all had the same talents and the same weaknesses? Not much would get accomplished, would it?

“But unto every one of us is given grace according to the measure of the gift of Christ.”

Ephesians 4:7

However, there are some people who think that just because they can’t do certain things that they can’t be used in the Lord’s work. Nonsense! God purposely made us all different so that we could each fill a gap where our particular talent is needed. Think about your strengths and your weaknesses. Where do you exceed? Where can your talents or strengths be used? Are you using them? Did you know that faithfulness is a talent? Did you know that being a prayer warrior is a talent? Everyone has at least one talent or even more and everyone can be used. The question becomes, “are you willing?”

“As every man hath received the gift, even so minister the same one to another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God.”

1 Peter 4:10

And yes, we do all have different talents and abilities, some seemingly more than others, but I also want to be careful to point out that you should not give up and not try other things. Part of the human spirit is that if you try hard enough and don’t give up, you can accomplish great things. Don’t get discouraged if what you set out to do fails the first time. Keep trying. I have been amazed in my own life and watching others, the things that I was actually able to do if I just put my mind to it and didn’t quit. I think so many times we give up before we even start and we keep telling ourselves that we can’t do something and therefore never really try. You might be surprised as to what you can do, if you put forth the effort and don’t give up.

“But all these worketh that one and the selfsame Spirit, dividing to every man severally as he will. For as the body is one, and hath many members, and all the members of that one body, being many, are one body: so also is Christ.”

1 Corinthians 12:11-12

I guess the saddest commentary would be that we all have these talents and gifts that the Lord has given to us, and we don’t use them. How many people are sitting in the pews of our churches and are hiding their God-given talents and abilities? Maybe because they think they don’t measure up to someone else’s. That’s just as ridiculous as the quote about the fish above. We all aren’t supposed to have the same talents. Yet God commands us to be involved and to use whatever talent we do have for His glory. Are you using yours? Start today! Resolve to be used for the Lord. Don’t look around at anybody else’s talent and be discouraged. Keep your eye on the goal which is to bring honor and glory to the Lord with what the Lord has entrusted in you!

“And whatsoever ye do, do it heartily, as to the Lord, and not unto men; Knowing that of the Lord ye shall receive the reward of the inheritance: for ye serve the Lord Christ.”

Colossians 3:23-24