About Jesus  -  Steve Sweetman

Plumbing Problems

In the last week or so my wife and I have been plagued with two serious plumbing problems.  Last November I was diagnosed with prostate cancer, so on January 9, 2019, my prostate was removed.  Until January 29 I must wear a catheter.  I call that a plumbing problem.  Also during the last week or so we had a severe sewage problem that required our sewer pipes being removed and replaced from our neighbour's driveway.  We were unable to use our toilet or drain any water from our sinks without the sewage backing up into our kitchen sink.  I call that a plumbing problem. 

We are thankful to the skilled doctor who removed my cancerous prostate and the expert excavator who replaced our outdoor broken sewage pipes.  1 Corinthians 12:6 says something about these skills.

"There are different kinds of working, but in all of them and in everyone it is the same God at work."

Just prior to the above statement Paul referenced certain gifts that come from the Holy Spirit and certain ministries that come from Christ.  Then, according to the NIV's awkward translation, Paul mentioned the working that comes from God and is given to everyone. 

From the Greek word "energema"  that is translated as "working" in the NIV Paul was saying that everyone is given certain God-given talents and abilities, which I believe is at conception, that can be used in the service of the Lord.  No one is excluded, not even non-believers, as seen in the word "everyone."  It is for this reason we thank God for the God-given ability my surgeon has to remove my sick prostate.  We thank God for the God-given ability of the excavator who replaced our sewer pipes.  We also thank the one who has the God-given financial ability who funded the cost of the excavation. 

Whether Christian or non-Christian, we should be thankful for everyone who exercises his or her God-given talents and abilities.  For those of us who are Christians, let us use our God-given talents and abilities to serve Jesus.    

In the final analysis, Paul is telling us that ultimately it is God who is to be praised and thanked for the gifts He gives to everyone that benefit us all.