“Thou was perfect in thy ways from the day that thou was created, till iniquity was found in thee.”
Ezekiel 28:15
There’s nothing wrong with being unsure of yourself; in most instances, insecurity compels us to practice in the areas where we are the most insecure. For instance, if you have a fear of speaking in public, you can take public speaking classes at Toastmasters International, a group known for aiding others with the same insecurity. The same thing goes for singing, dancing, acting, cooking, etc.; and, just about anything else you would like to become adept in. The more you practice, the better you will become.
Now’s here’s the catch. Chances are, even if you become good enough to be more secure than you were when you started, the craft you are practicing will probably not be your gift. It will not be the thing most people call your “God-given” talent. There will always be someone better who can easily do, in his or her sleep, what you must work excruciatingly hard at, just to be mediocre. It’s their talent, not yours. Often, people who are extremely gifted at one thing tend to be gifted in other areas. They learn to appreciate a level of excellence in whatever task they undertake. They also have no difficulty in appreciating the exceptional talents and gifts of others. If you are one of those people, you will recognize yourself in the statement. However, when insecurity turns evil it becomes envy; and, this is where the tables turn. There are those who, in their insecurity, despise the talents and gifts of those who tend to be better at using their gifts. Insecurity travels through all levels of life, from childhood to the workplace; from the workplace to church; from church to playtime on the basketball court. It is not something new; it began with Lucifer, the most vocally gifted and beautifully stunning of all angels.
God gave Lucifer multiple gifts; in addition to being one of the most beautiful angels in Heaven, his angelic skin was covered in every gem imaginable and unimaginable by man. The Bible says, his voice was a combination of tabrets (drums) and pipes. So, we can only imagine when he came into God’s presence to sing, his gem-covered skin shone like the morning sun. When he sang, his voice not only chimed in the eight-octaves of the most magnificent organ you’ve ever heard, it had its own back-beat to boot! Yet somehow, he still wanted more!
In Isaiah 14:13-14, the Bible says,
“For thou has said in thine heart, I will ascend into heaven, I will exalt my throne above the stars of God: I will sit also upon the mount of the congregation, in the sides of the north: I will ascend above the heights of the clouds; I will be like the Most High.”
God gave him extraordinary gifts; however, being the most beautiful angel with an orchestral sound emanating from his throat was not enough—he wanted to be God!
When we envy others for the gifts God bestowed on them, we negate our own gifts. We become the lone man in the parable of the talents who buried his talent because he was too busy grumbling about receiving only one. If you are insecure about your talent, learn from the best; practice the art until you are satisfied with your level of success. But, do not fall prey to what I prefer to call, The Lucifer Syndrome, allowing your insecurity to lead you into envying others for their gifts; it will only negate your own blessed gifts, and lead you to destruction. L.
Study Reference: Ezekiel 28:13-19, Matthew 25:14-30
From;"The Lucifer Syndrome." In The Master's Hands: 365 Daily Devotions for Everyday Living.
Copyright © 2014 by Lavona E. Campbell
Photo credit: Ingo Arndt
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