NEGLECT NOT. 1st Timothy 4:14. God has blessed His people by giving us the ability to fulfill His purpose. We should use this gift regularly, spontaneously, and with love, power, and discipline. The things of God should never be taken lightly or handled carelessly. God expects "the gift" to be used for its intended purpose. It deserves our attention and should be utilized where it can most benefit others. The God who gives the gift also provides the ability to use it and will open doors to places and situations where it can serve divine goals. The confidence that God places in us, along with those who need our help and those who have publicly acknowledged and praised us, all serve meaningful purposes. We must focus on the work we have been called to do.
Neglecting something means leaving it unused. God has given us gifts to serve Him effectively and to serve His people. A “ministry” is a specific task that benefits the Lord’s people both practically and spiritually, and it brings glory to God when we commit ourselves to it. God has called us to enable others to give what they may not be able or willing to give on their own.
Putting things off that should be done, I call procrastination. Applying myself to them with diligence, I call dedication. To stand by and observe without taking action is fascination. To step in and respond with care and concern is a form of consecration.
To have a certain ability given by inherited characteristics is genetic. To learn from another by observation and sounds, may be phonetic. To express oneself in words that rhyme is poetic. To have one’s gift identified by those who know God, is prophetic.
A work to be accomplished that you are able to do, needs responsibility. A sense of right and/or wrong that needs to be addressed is morality. To be able to define a need and the solution well is scriptural simplicity. To get up and meet the need by the power of God means you use your ability.
Gifts given by God to be used for the benefit of others need compassion. What God gives, in combination with natural talent, defines your occupation. To be practical in the use of gifts will call for a conscious decision To act quickly and decisively before an issue becomes a dangerous situation.
In His great wisdom, God knows what is needed in a given locality, And when He saves a soul, He gifts them so needs are met capably. If that gift is used under divine guidance, the need is dealt with satisfactorily. And the functioning of the whole body moves ahead with alacrity.
God’s grace reveals itself to us in many ways by observation. And faith steps up to do its work in and through me by sanctification To the truth and awareness of what has been accomplished by His justification; And by not neglecting the gift given, I can perhaps help one avoid condemnation.
Others recognize who you are and what God has empowered you to achieve for Him. Do not hide behind supposed inadequacies or self-serving pursuits. The faithful minister of Jesus Christ commits himself to godliness and to exercising the gift he has received. Diligence means we must not only think about these things and pass them off casually but also reflect on them. That involves taking the time necessary to thoroughly understand what we are called to do.
We must ensure that we are well-versed in these spiritual matters and actively practice them publicly. Knowing something only has value if we act on what we know, as it can benefit others and bring honor to God. Our minds and hearts need to focus on the truths of God's word and God Himself. Then, we will discover open doors to effective service for our Lord.