Most people know the story about David and Goliath but few know the story within the story. David is standing before King Saul explaining his confidence in his ability to slay the Philistine giant. Saul decides, “If the boy is going out to war, he ought to dress the part.” So he puts his tunic, armor, and sword on David. The youth walks around looking ridiculous in the ill fitted combat gear and declares, “Uh, I’m gonna pass on the battle rattle and go fight light.” (First Samuel 17.32-40 CWV-Chuck Wood Version) He runs out, pegs Goliath between the eyes with a small rock, and cuts off the enemy’s head with his own sword.
Here’s my point. Someone else’s armor (their alignment with God) might not fit you all that well. And although there are many areas in which will all serve God in principle (we all worship, obey, share the gospel, make disciples, etc…) it’s probably going to look unique and tailor made to each individual based on personalities, gifting, and seasons of life.
So let’s look at some Scripture that points to our unique personalities, gifting, and seasons of life.
Uniquely Crafted by God
“Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, And before you were born I consecrated you; I have appointed you a prophet to the nations.” (Jeremiah 1.5)
For You formed my inward parts; You wove me in my mother’s womb. I will give thanks to You, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made; Wonderful are Your works, And my soul knows it very well. My frame was not hidden from You, When I was made in secret, And skillfully wrought in the depths of the earth; Your eyes have seen my unformed substance; And in Your book were all written The days that were ordained for me, When as yet there was not one of them. (Psalm 139.13-16)
Uniquely Gifted
For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand so that we would walk in them. (Ephesians 2.10)
For just as we have many members in one body and all the members do not have the same function, so we, who are many, are one body in Christ, and individually members one of another. Since we have gifts that differ according to the grace given to us, each of us is to exercise them accordingly… (Romans 12.4-6a)
But one and the same Spirit works all these things, distributing to each one individually just as He wills. (First Corinthians 12.11)
Unique Seasons of Life
He will be like a tree firmly planted by streams of water, Which yields its fruit in its season And its leaf does not wither; And in whatever he does, he prospers. (Psalm 1.3)
There is an appointed time for everything. And there is a time for every event under heaven— (Ecclesiastes 3.1)
For I am confident of this very thing, that He who began a good work in you will perfect it until the day of Christ Jesus. (Philippians 1.6)
So why is this so important? We’ve all seen people (and maybe we’ve made this mistake ourselves) trying so hard to be like someone else. It’s either so fake or awkward that it’s almost comical. We need to take some advice from the age old philosopher, Socrates, when he said “Know Thyself.” Even as we are trying to become more like Jesus, we will see designed differences. If we study ourselves in light of the Scriptures and our uniqueness in the eyes of God, we will be doing only what we are uniquely designed to do. This will bring more clarity and alignment to our lives.
Are we trying to be like someone else so much we are robbing the kingdom of our unique contribution? Are we cramming others into our “method mold” instead of majoring on Biblical principles?
ToBeLikeJesus 