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1 Cor 13:1-3

1 Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I have become sounding brass or a clanging cymbal. 2 And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. 3 And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, but have not love, it profits me nothing.

I remember back when I was teaching a home group, there was a person in this home group who is a postal carrier (mail man). This man had very bad pain in his shoulders from when he used to deliver the mail. He has gone though various surgeries to help ease the pain and every once in a while he would experience tremendous pain in his shoulders.
Well, this particular night he came to home group and was experiencing this pain.

Also in the home group was a person who was a chiropractor. Now you would think that this person would want to ease his pain and massage his shoulders the way a doctor knows how. But this person didn't. She did invite him to come to her office and she would work on his shoulders there another day.

Sounds crazy doesn't it? You would think that someone with this gift from God would willingly use it to help out someone, at no cost.
Now I do understand that being a doctor and going to school that it's part of your income to help out others. But if you truly have the gift of healing, then it shouldn't matter if you are paid or not.

That's where today's devotional verses come in.

"and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, but have not love, I am nothing."

This person had the gift of healing, but had not love; therefore she was unwilling or didn't think of helping this man out at the time he really needed help.
It would be like me as a teacher of God's word and studying for myself and not sharing it with others, or asking you to pay to go through these studies.
I have vowed to God that I would never, ever ask for money. If God wants these studies to continue then He will provide, which He always has.

So think about the gift(s) God has given you. Do you use them and so when? What are you seeking in return? Money, praise from man or God?
Maybe you don't know what your gift(s) are or how to use them. If this is the case then I would encourage you to go through the studies on the Holy Spirit and/or read Chuck Smith's book "Living Water". It's a great book and one that inspired me to start teaching. You could say that God revealed my gift of teaching through God's word and this book.

And finally, when you do for others no matter how big or small it may seem, do it out of love. If not then:

I have become sounding brass or a clanging cymbal.

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