What Do You Do Best?

A ten-year-old girl, Valeria Yezhova, from Ukraine has recently made international headlines.

In an interview, her mother told reporters, “Valeria asked me how she could help the Ukrainian army. I asked her what she does best, [and] she replied that she is good at checkers.”

“Good” is actually an understatement. She’s the European and world champion in her age group

So, little Valeria went to a shopping center in Kyiv, and set up a folding table with a sign reading, “We are helping the Ukrainian army.”

When people lose to Valaria in the checker challenge, they donate what they choose in a shoebox. She raised $700 in one week, which will be given to a foundation that supports the military with equipment and humanitarian aid.

According to CNN “Yezhova’s success and growing fame have encouraged others in her checkers’ club to follow her lead and get out onto the streets to raise money for Ukraine’s military campaign.”

“Valeria is already a legend here,” said Dmitro Penzev, after losing his game.. “You would rather lose to her, she is doing a great job helping the Ukrainian army. She has probably touched the whole of Ukraine.”

The question asked by Valaria’s mother is a good one for Christians to ask, “What do you do best?”

Jesus’ parable of the talents reminds us that we’ve each been given skills, talents, and abilities that we are expected to use in glorifying Him. Not everyone is a five-talent person. Or even a two-talent person. But even if you’re a one-talent person, God wants you to do what you do best. Don’t hide or bury your talent, thinking that it’s unimportant.

The apostle Paul addressed the issue of every member of the Body of Christ doing what they can do.

For by the grace given to me I say to everyone among you not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think, but to think with sober judgment, each according to the measure of faith that God has assigned. For as in one body we have many members, and the members do not all have the same function, so we, though many, are one body in Christ, and individually members one of another. Having gifts that differ according to the grace given to us –Rom. 12:3-6

From the text, Paul makes four important points.

#1 Every member in the spiritual Body ought to be a “minister.” Ministry is not reserved for just pastors and preachers.

#2 Every ministry is important. There are no “little people” in the Lord’s family.

#3 It’s implied that our service is interdependent with the other members. This is more fully explained in 1 Corinthians 12

#4 Ministry is based on our gifts. Everyone possesses some gift they can use in Kingdom service. They are all different. Whatever gift we have is by Gods grace. Then he emphasizes, “Let us use them.”

The list that follows in the text broadly speaks of gifts relating to teaching, preaching, leadership, benevolence, financial stewardship, edification, encouragement, and comforting the broken-hearted.

Think of how many other ways you can serve by doing what you do best.

Almost every skill used in your profession, occupation, or hobby can be used to assist the church collectively, or its members individually. Everything from computer to carpentry skills. From musical to mechanical ability. From artistic to athletic talent. From highly trained professional skills to financial insights, you can bless the life of a fellow Christian, friend, or neighbor.

When we “walk in love,” follow in the footsteps of Jesus as we go “about doing good,” letting our “light shine”, seeking to be “the salt of the earth,” and living a life that is righteous and godly, we are doing what we are called to do as His disciples.

Edward Everett Hale’s inspiring words remind us that we can all do something. “I am only one, but still I am one. I cannot do everything, but still, I can do something and because I cannot do everything, I will not refuse to do the something that I can do.”

Little Valeria reminds us that we can all do something to make a difference. Do what you do best.

–Ken Weliever, The Preacherman