As a summer school principal I get to visit every classroom. Dropping in on first grade this week, I met a student who had just finished a puzzle.
I asked the young boy, “Why is the number 7 in the middle?” Without hesitation he said, “It’s because all of them (the addition problems) add up to 7. “Oh, I see!” I said. “There are different ways to make 7.” “Yes, Mr. Duncan. You didn’t know that?”😊
There are different kinds of gifts, but the same Spirit. There are different kinds of service, but the same Lord.
1 Corinthians 12:4-5 (NIV)
This sounds simple enough. Yet some folks at the church in Corinth apparently thought their spiritual addition —gifts and service—was more important than others. But Paul admonished them: “Guys, the sum of your service to God points to the same answer: Jesus Christ. Furthermore, these are His gifts, not yours.” (David’s paraphrase)🤠
All these are the work of one and the same Spirit, who gives them to each one, just as He determines
1 Corinthians 12:11 (NIV)
Kind reader, whatever your spiritual gifts, please remember they are important to the Body of Christ (the church). Everyone matters if anyone matters at all. So keep serving God your way, with all your strength, and I will too.
Each one should use whatever gift he has received to serve others, faithfully administering God’s grace in its various forms.
1 Peter 4:10 (NIV)
Thank you for reading. 🙏❤️ prayers and love.
Davids Daily Dose 
Comments
41 responses to “God’s Arithmetic”
Thank you, marlagro. God Bless.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Great analogy! ❤
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you, big sister SimplyB! God Bless.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Amen to every word! “Everyone matters if anyone matters at all. So keep serving God your way, with all your strength, and I will too.” That there is wisdom, Mr Duncan.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you, Beth.
LikeLike
Happy Father’s Day David!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Amen, Beth. This is exactly what I wanted to say.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I love this mathematical application David. Only with each person using their spiritual gift is the church puzzle complete.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you, Petrina. May God Bless you too!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Amen! Love this and thank you for the exhortation. May God continue to bless you and your family 🙏🏾❤
LikeLiked by 1 person
I bet you make the parents chuckle as well David. I can hear the kid saying to his parents at the supper table “I’m smarter than the principal!”
LikeLiked by 1 person
You make a good Barnabas my dear brother👍😉
LikeLiked by 2 people
Thank you, brother. I also have my doubts, at times, about the value of my spiritual gifts. God made me a helper and encourager, like Barnabas in the Bible, but sometimes I long to be like Paul or Peter—a fearless out front leader.
I am always grateful for your input. Blessings!
LikeLike
What a lovely uplifting post David, thank you! Like most folk I have moments of doubt in my gifts, and in their value. Praise God He always has a reason in what He does with us, Hallelujah! We are all part of that confusing jigsaw. God bless you today brother.
LikeLiked by 2 people
You said what I wanted to say better than I did, Matt! Yes, working with children charges my “batteries “ most of the time. God Bless!
LikeLiked by 1 person
I love the simplicity and joy of discovery children experience while learning.
The value of the spiritual gifts is not in the gift but in the giver who rewards faithfulness not results.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Love that! The moving the decimal, not that it is hard for you!
LikeLiked by 1 person
David, I got that from your post. Truly!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Amen! Another numbers lover told me it doesn’t matter how big the numbers are. “It’s just moving the decimal,” he said. Sounds easy, but not for me!
LikeLiked by 1 person
🙏I’m praying you’ll be back with the children tomorrow. Thank you, Catsandcoffee. God Bless!
LikeLike
You had me at math!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Prayers, I can. I have missed teaching the children due to health issues. Hoping to get back to church, tomorrow
LikeLiked by 1 person
Yeah…there is that
LikeLiked by 1 person
🙂🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
Yes, the joy on their faces is priceless, and I always play along.☺️ Plus, sometimes the older kids are learning something I don’t immediately remember learning.
LikeLike
Oh my, I love when kids think they are teaching us things. It puts such joy on there faces.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you, Priti. God Bless you too!
LikeLike
Thank you. So much of teaching children is simply asking them what they learned. I am grateful for your thoughts, as always.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I love your illustrations, David. They simplify the important truths the Bible teaches. I can see why you are in the teaching professions. You really have a gift for teaching!!!
LikeLiked by 1 person
🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
Yes, children are not hampered by the adult “filters” we must endure.
I appreciate your comment about my post being spot on, Andy B. I really make an effort to write the best content I can every week, and to do so without wasting words. God Bless the Berry Bunch.
LikeLike
You mention a great angle to my thought, Betty. We should respect ourselves and others, it doesn’t have to be one or the other. Thank you for reading and commenting. Blessings!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you, Manette Kay. My earthly father had a favorite saying, “It’s six one way and half a dozen the other.” Our service in God’s kingdom is similar. There are many ways to serve. May Jehovah Jirah (our provider) be with you, as well.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Yes! Little is much when God is in it. It’s our availability, not ability, that matters most to our Heavenly Father. Thank you for sharing, Manu. God’s best to you!
LikeLiked by 1 person
A good reminder David. Sometimes we can think what we are doing does not make much of a difference. We are all needed, more than skill, our faithfulness and obedience is what God would want.
LikeLiked by 1 person
David, what a vivid analogy for our various gifts. Yehovah bless you.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Excellent post, David. A good reminder to value and respect others as well as oneself. Enjoy your day!
LikeLiked by 1 person
I so love this post. The simpler way children humble us is what I have always most loved about serving with them.
Brilliant post – literally the whole thing is spot on!!
Andy B
LikeLiked by 2 people
Thank you, Bridget. You are often the first to comment on my posts, and you always add valuable thoughts to the discussion. There are many ways to serve our Lord and Savior, so we do well not to compare ourselves to others. God Bless!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Summer school principal sounds fun and rewarding! Thank you for the reminder too. I think our gifts can be stumbling blocks for different reasons. Sometimes we might take pride in them, forgetting they come from the Lord, not us. And sometimes we might think we are less than others. So thank you for this reminder that we are all needed in the body of Christ. Have a blessed weekend!
LikeLiked by 3 people
.🙏🏻God bless you 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person