“Excuse me. Excuse me, please. I’m sorry; I’m just trying to get by here. Can you let me get past here? I’m trying to make it to the front. Excuse me, if you’ll just let me squeeze through here. Thank you so much, I’m just trying to make some room here.”
Can’t you just see it? You’re wondering how on earth God is going to do what He’s promised you. He’s given you this wonderful gift, and somehow your gift is going about its business, making room for you. That’s why I love Proverbs 18:16: “A man’s gift maketh room for him, and bringeth him before great men.”
God gave me this revelation a few weeks ago. I started laughing as I envisioned my gift making room for me. “Excuse me, excuse me, please. I’m just trying to squeeze through here. We’re just trying to make it over there so we can do what we need to do.”
For whatever reason, many folks aren’t walking in their purpose, not walking in their gift. With some, it’s because they’re shy. Some don’t know how to go about it. Some don’t want to come off as being showy. And some have been knocked down and knocked back so many times that they’ve decided to just sit and not bother trying anymore. But this scripture states, “A man’s gift maketh room for him, and bringeth him before great men.” Maketh is present tense. Your gift makes room for you. I’m smiling as I think about how our gifts will not only make room for us, but will also bring us before great men. Am I the only one shouting with a smile on my face right now?
Your gift makes room for you. “Excuse me, making room here.” And then your gift brings you—bring being an active word, an active verb. Okay, let me break it down like this. Your gift is not only making room for you, but it’s grabbing you by the hand, grabbing some of you by your collars, and bringing you before great men. Wow!
I think about some of the people I’ve had the pleasure of meeting during my lifetime. Some of them have been known greats, but a lot of them are greats who don’t have a clue who they really are. They have gifts and talents and purpose, but they think they are nothings and nobodys. And that’s what they act like—like they’re nothing and a nobody when in truth they’re great because God made them and He has called them to greatness. Not to boast or to lord over others, but greatness to minister…to serve others. I’ve been asked more times than I can count if I’m a minister. Well, yes and no. No, if you want to attach it to me as an official title. Yes, if you understand that the word minister means a servant of God, and I am indeed a servant of the Most High God.
May I have a “Word” with you? There is too much work to be done for you to continue playing small. God gave you a gift. Your gift will make room for you if you’ll stop trying to sit your gift down, telling it how it doesn’t look right for it to be up there trying to bring you from point A to point B. Your gift will make room for you, and you need to learn to go with your gift. Allow your gift to do all God has placed in your hands to do. Allow your gift to make room for you, to bring you before great men, and to minister and edify the body of Christ. “A man’s gift maketh room for him, and bringeth him before great men.” Eyes have not seen nor have ears heard all that God has in store for those who are willing and obedient. Oh, the half has not been told. “Excuse me, excuse me, please. Excuse me. I don’t want to be late. We’re just trying to get there.” That’s my gift talking. So, tell me: What does your gift have to say?
Copyright © 2009 Vanessa Davis Griggs All rights reserved.
Vanessa Davis Griggs is a speaker and the author of seven novels which includes: Blessed Trinity, Strongholds, and If Memory Serves. Coming May 26, 2009, book number eight: Practicing What You Preach. Visit her Web site at: www.VanessaDavisGriggs.com