Life With a Gift

This week the world mourns the loss of a pop music icon. Michael Jackson touched the lives of people in every corner of the globe with his music. There may be a number of Biblical figures that the King of Pop can be compared to. One that comes to my mind is King David. Through these two kings, we can learn a lot about living with a gift.

Both Michael and David’s gifts were challenged by adversity. It wasn’t by happenstance that Michael grew up in a home with the ultimate stage parents Joe and Katherine Jackson. Nor did David just happen to be a shepherd boy, son of Jesse. Michael’s early years were fraught with abuse and David’s time tending sheep was certainly rough and dangerous every now and then (see 1 Samuel 17:34–35)—yet neither allowed these obstacles to destroy their gift. Your trials can ultimately make your gift stronger.

David and Michael were dedicated to developing their gifts. Even with God-given natural talent, a gift needs to be polished. I often envision David spending much time while in the pastures watching his father’s sheep, practicing his harp and sharpening his fighting skills. It has been documented that Michael Jackson spent hours on end in the dance studio to perfect just a single dance move. Resting on your abilities is not an option, your gift is something to be worked at—daily.

Their gifts did not make them invulnerable to sin. While celebrated world wide for his genuine artistry, Michael Jackson also led a bizarre personal life that alienated some and appalled others. And David, although regarded as one of the greatest leaders that ever lived, allowed his lust for another man’s wife to cause him to orchestrate the murder of the man on the battlefield (2 Samuel 11). While both Michael and David are considered great men because of their gifts, both faced great personal turmoil and heartbreaking tragedy because of their sin. Even if you use your gift for the benefit of others, God doesn’t close his eyes or wink at your sin.

We are all born with a gift. Let’s learn from the examples of those set before us so that our gifts may be used for God’s glory.

Are You a Regifter?

One of my all-time favorite sitcoms, Seinfeld, coined a phrase that is still popular today: “regifting.” To regift means to take a gift you were given and turn around and give it to someone else (either with or without the original wrapping!). It is considered a disgraceful practice, and if caught, the regifter is often put to shame. Although you would never want to find that someone you love has regifted you, why do we find it acceptable to regift God?

Since the beginning of time, man has made gifts of sacrifice to God. We find that in Genesis 4:3–5, Cain and Abel brought the gifts of their labor before God as a sacrifice. While Abel brought the fat portions from the first born of this flock, the Bible says that Cain laid out “some of the fruits of the soil.” Or basically, he regifted his leftover harvest. God looked upon Abel’s offering with favor, not Cain’s.

One might argue that we have no need to make such sacrifices today. After all, Jesus, the Son of God, was the ultimate sacrifice for our sins. The perfect Lamb without spot or blemish, presented before God to redeem all of mankind. While this is true, let us not believe that we can now wash our hands and be done with the whole gift-giving business.

It is actually because of Jesus’ sacrifice that we can enjoy a closer relationship with God and give Him our gifts willingly and freely. For example, I am always inspired by first-time authors who choose to use their gift of writing to glorify God, rather than please the world. God gave us His best, we should strive to give Him ours.

God doesn’t want our leftovers, He demands our best. I’m not a regifter—I’m giving Him my first fruits!

What’s Gospel About It? (Part II)

For years, I was a Copywriter at a multicultural advertising agency. Our goal was to target ethnic audiences (primarily African American) with marketing messages that were culturally and socially relevant. Often, I would bring a brilliant ad concept to my Creative Director, present it confidently, and wait for the response. Quite often, he would ask, “What’s Black about it?”

For my Creative Director, “I’m Black and I wrote it,” was never a sufficient answer. While those were particularly frustrating and grueling years, the one thing I learned from multicultural advertising was how to speak to a specifically targeted audience. So no less do I expect my Gospel music to speak to me directly as a Christian. I expect it to reflect the Word of God, to somehow convey the “Good News” (which is where we get the term “Gospel”), or be a psalm of praise and worship to the King of Kings and Lord of Lords. Just because an artist is Christian and they’ve recorded a great song, it doesn’t necessarily make their work Gospel, in my opinion.

More and more so-called Gospel songs are being picked up by Urban Contemporary radio stations. But at what price? In an effort to please everyone, many artists are compromising the Holy One. Many of the songs that cross-over from Gospel to Urban Contemporary fail to directly mention Jesus in the lyrics, or leave plenty of room for “interpretation.”

One might argue that these songs have the best chance to reach wider audiences and attract new believers. While many often quote Paul in 1 Corinthians 9:22, “…I have become all things to all men so that by all possible means I might save some.” They miss the important point that follows in the next verse, “I do all this for the sake of the gospel, that I may share in its blessings.” Not for glory, not for fame, not for a few million dollars more in the next recording contract.

Is your Gospel playlist truly Gospel? Leave a comment!