Your Gift Matters!

“To be a great leader, you would have to commit yourself to doing something that is of great value to others.”

                                           

                   

                                                                 READ: Genesis 47:5-6                                                                                                                        

By Ben Dankaka

One day, Jesus embarked on a journey to the Sea, so He could have a quiet time. But a crowd of five thousand people followed Him. Although Jesus didn’t invite any of them, they followed Him, all the way to the far shore of the Sea of Galilee. Now why would such a huge crowd of people, leave their comfort zones and follow Jesus to a deserted place? According to the scripture, the people had followed Jesus “because they saw the miraculous signs he had performed on the sick” (John 6:2).

To be powerful, you have to commit yourself to doing something that is of great value to others. People aren’t going to follow you because they like your face. The Bible didn’t say the people followed Jesus because they liked Him. They followed Him because He had something to offer. What you can offer is the main thing. The thousands that followed Jesus were mainly concerned with the miracles. What can you do that will be of great value to others? Your ability to discover your unique gifts, and then offer it to others will determine how relevant you would be to your generation. Focus on your gifts!

Prayer/Confession: Today, I shall focus on the gifts that I have been given by my Heavenly Father.

REFERENCES/FURTHER STUDY: 

Proverbs 18:16

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That Hidden Message

      “What are you doing with what you have received from God?”

                                                                            

                

                                                                           READ: Mark 4:22                                                                                                                      

By Ben Dankaka

During one of His teachings, Jesus said, “For whatever is hidden is meant to be disclosed, and whatever is concealed is meant to be brought to the open”. This was a reference to His messages. Interestingly, the statement captures what we do whenever we post letters. To post a letter, we hide our message inside an envelope. And like Jesus said, the hidden message is meant to be disclosed. However, it isn’t intended to stay hidden. The message is meant to be brought to the open when it gets to the receiver.

Jesus had wanted His disciples to realize it was their responsibility to unravel His messages. Just as the sender of an enclosed letter expects the receiver to unpack the hidden message, Jesus expects us to “unpack” His messages. What Christ has deposited in us is the message of the kingdom of God. On a deeper perspective, it can also be likened to the natural gifts He has buried in us. So, it is our duty to bring out our hidden potential. Inside every person is a hidden gift, which God has deposited. What are you doing with what you have received from God?

Prayer/Confession: Father, give me the wisdom and power to unravel and maximize the gifts you’ve given me. Amen.

REFERENCES/FURTHER STUDY: Mark 4:21-25

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The Leader as Sower

“As long as you do not give up, you will eventually have people who would bear fruit with the seeds you’ve sowed in their lives.”

                                     

                    

                                                                     READ: Luke 8:8                                                                                                                            

Jesus once shared a story of a farmer who went out to sow seeds. Although the farmer intended to sow all the seeds he had, some were lost. At first, some seeds fell on a path and were eaten by birds. Then, some seeds fell on rock and perished because they had no roots. Other seeds fell among thorns. At last, some seeds fell on good soil and reproduced. Though this story captures the challenges that prevent us from becoming fruitful with God’s word, it is also a lesson for leaders who desire to build others.

We can liken the seeds that were eaten by birds to those who immediately slip off our hands the moment we begin to sow into their lives.  The seeds that fell on the rock can be matched with those who desire to grow but due to their history, they give up along the way. Then again, there are those who would desire to grow but their personal battles will chock them. These are the seeds among thorns. 

However, in the end, you will have people who would bear fruit with the seeds you’ve sowed in their lives. These are the “seeds” on good soil. 

Prayer/Confession: Lord, give me an enduring spirit. Amen.

REFERENCES/FURTHER STUDY: 

Luke 8:4-15

Mark 4:1-8

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The Leader as Farmer

“The leader who acts as a servant sows into the lives of his people.”

                                                            READ: Psalm 126:6                                                                                                                           

       In Genesis 8:22, God said “as long as the earth endures, seedtime and harvest, cold and heat, summer and winter, day and night will never cease”. This is an indisputable law of success, which has been relied upon by the entire human race. In my research on some of the most influential people in history, I have seen how their careers evolved in accordance to the law of seedtime and harvest. Here’s my point: any leader who serves others is like a farmer who sows a seed. Just as the farmer sows, the leader also sows through service. 

As a leader, you may sow by serving others with your ideas, money, time or gifts. You may not enjoy the process at the beginning because the rewards aren’t immediate. But like the farmer who waits for his seed to germinate, the leader who serves others, also has to wait for a while before the reward of his service will manifest. And just as a farmer reaps what he sows, the leader who serves will surely reap whatever he has sowed in people’s lives. Whether you are leading a small or big group, sow like a farmer.

Prayer/Confession: LORD, give me the seeds that I can use and sow into other people’s lives. 

REFERENCES/FURTHER STUDY: 

Ecclesiastes 11:6

Psalm 126

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The Servant Leader

“A slave is forced to serve, but servants choose to serve.”

 

                                                                READ: Luke 9:12-13                                                                                                                       

By Ben Dankaka

The term, “Servant leadership” was coined by Robert K. Greenleaf in an essay that he first published in 1970, titled, The Servant as Leader. In that essay, Greenleaf began with the statement, “The servant-leader is servant first”. No doubt, the fundamental aspect of every area of leadership is service. While Greenleaf’s essay has made a great impact on present-day leadership, the principle of servant leadership is originally God’s idea. Think of Jesus Christ for example. For every problem He encountered, He saw it as an opportunity to serve. 

Recall the story of how Jesus fed five thousand people. The disciples had said, “Send the crowd away so they can go to the surrounding villages and countryside and find food and lodging, because we are in a remote place here.” His disciples saw the situation as a problem. But Jesus viewed it as an opportunity to serve. So He replied, “You give them something to eat.” With that statement, Jesus challenged the disciples to serve the people. The decision to serve others can be the best decision anyone can make. Serving others does make the leader become a servant but it DOESN’T make him a slave. Today, be willing to serve.

Prayer/Confession: Dear Lord, give me the courage be a servant leader. Amen.

REFERENCES/FURTHER STUDY: 

 Luke 22:26

Psalm 18:27

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The Power to Serve

                                                                                                               

“Humility begets servanthood.”

                                                                 READ: Mathew 23:11          

                                                                                                                                By Ben Dankaka      

Behind closed doors, most leaders don’t like the idea of “servanthood” because it conjures feelings of bondage in their minds. They don’t want to see their roles as burdensome because they’ve been conditioned to think by their cultures that leadership positions are comfort zones. But Jesus disagrees. Christ expects leaders to act as servants. One day, He said to His disciples, “The greatest among you will be your servant.” In other words, “the leader among you should be the servant”. This leadership philosophy is the key to becoming the most powerful person in any group or setting. 

 But we cannot become true leaders unless we humble ourselves. Jesus said, “whoever humbles himself will be exalted”. Christ recommends humility in leadership because it is the only way a leader can truly serve. If we are to go by the teachings of Christ, anyone who isn’t willing to serve should simply stay away from any leadership position. But that’s not what Jesus actually wants. Jesus wants us to be humble so we can be able to serve others. When we humble ourselves at every given situation, our self-interest is thrown out and replaced with a desire to meet the needs of others. 

Prayer/Confession: Dear Lord, fill me up with a humble spirit. Amen.

REFERENCES/FURTHER STUDY: 

 Mathew 23:1-12

Matthew 24:45-47

Philippians 2:3

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The Fruitful Leader

“God rewards and refreshes those who refresh others with their gifts.”

 

READ: Proverbs 11:24-25   

                                                                                                    By Ben Dankaka     

Most times, leaders who fail to effectively serve their people do it on purpose. They might say, “If I empower my people, they will become too powerful and eventually feel we are equals.” What they don’t know is that they can benefit a lot more when they truly serve others. But as long as leaders are unaware of the benefits of serving others, they would keep oppressing their people. For leaders to recognize the importance of serving others, they must first of all, know its benefits. Contrary to popular belief, empowering others does not “disempower” the leader. 

The book of Proverb says, “A generous person will prosper; whoever refreshes others will be refreshed.” To refresh others simply means to revitalize them. Leaders revitalize their people through service. Therefore, a true leader is like a fruit tree. Do you know that humans who benefit from fruit trees don’t pay the trees for their services? Actually, fruit trees serve humans, at no charge. But then, the fruit tree is rewarded by God who provides the soil, rain and the sunlight that keeps it refreshed at every season. Similarly, God is the source and rewarder of those who refresh others with their gifts.

Prayer/Confession: Dear Lord, refresh me as I refresh others with my gifts.

REFERENCES/FURTHER STUDY: 

Matthew 3:8

John 15:16

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Like Fruit Trees

“Becoming fruitful is key because it attracts God’s favor.”

READ: Genesis 1:28 

By Ben Dankaka

Fruit trees are endowed with seeds that produce fruits for other people’s benefit. They DO NOT eat their own fruit. Instead, they serve others with it. Like fruit trees, man was created to be fruitful. Like fruit trees, humans are blessed with the ability to bear fruit with their talents and skills. But while we are ALL gifted, not many of us become fruitful in the end. That is, we don’t often serve others with our gifts. For example, a person may be gifted in singing, but would never sing to an audience. 

When you are the only one who enjoys your gift, then you aren’t fruitful. Being fruitful attracts God’s favor. Jesus said, “Every branch in Me that does not bear fruit He takes away; and every branch that bears fruit He prunes, that it may bear more fruit”. For this reason, you can become powerful by feeding others with your gift. For instance, Joseph was a man gifted in interpreting dreams. Signs that he was gifted was revealed when as a young boy, he began to have dreams about his future. But He didn’t become a powerful and influential person until he used his gift to serve others. 

Prayer/Confession: Because I was created to be fruitful, I’ll bear good fruit in every area of my life, in Jesus Name.  

REFERENCES/FURTHER STUDY: 

John 15:2 

Genesis 1:1-28  

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Creativity is Power

“It takes knowledge to create anything.”

                                                     

                                                            READ: Psalm 136:3-5                                                                                                                      

By Ben Dankaka

Creativity is required in every business. For example, Sam Walton, founder of Wal-Mart Stores used a creative business formula which most retailers ignore. He bought a variety of products in bulk across his network of stores so he could pass savings on to his customers. As a result, people flocked to his stores. Fortunately, everyone can be creative. You may not be creative in your current work, but there’s a place you can be creative. If you are engaged in a work that you think has to do with your calling, and you are finding it difficult to be creative, then learn from the Creator of the universe.

God made the heavens and earth by His understanding (Proverbs 3:19). That is, by His knowledge, God created the heavens and the earth. So, He didn’t just create the heavens and the earth with His word. To create the earth, God had to use His knowledge and understanding. You see, knowledge is the ingredient for creating anything in life. You can’t invent a product with an empty brain. Creative individuals are those who have filled their minds with knowledge. We use knowledge to create. DON’T try to acquire power. Rather, acquire knowledge. 

Prayer/Confession: Lord Jesus, teach me how to use my gifts of wisdom and understanding to create wealth.

REFERENCES/FURTHER STUDY: 

Proverbs 3:19

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The Power to Choose

“Choose God’s way.”

 

                                                              READ: 2 Timothy 3:16-17                                                                                                                   

By Ben Dankaka

Paul said, “All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work” (2 Timothy 3:16-17). In simple terms, the Bible contain God’s thoughts, which is designed to enable us do great exploits. But while the ideas on how to live an effective life comes from God, the decision on whether to use it or not is made by man. Although God’s desire is for us to rely on His word, He does not impose His will on us. 

The power to choose for ourselves originated at creation when God said, “Let us create man in our image…. And let them rule.” Also, notice that in the Lord’s Prayer, Jesus instructs us to invite God’s kingdom unto the earth. Therefore, it is our job to seek God’s will. In the story of the prodigal child, you would notice that the father didn’t object when the younger son chose to leave home. When he eventually returned, the father also didn’t disagree. At every point, it was the son who chose what he wanted. My prayer for you today is to choose God’s way. 

Prayer/Confession:  I choose to be instructed in the House of the Lord.

REFERENCES/FURTHER STUDY:

Genesis 1:26-28

Matthew 18:18

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Guided Power

                                                                                                             

“To turn things around, you may have to experience the sort of encounter that Moses had.”

READ: Exodus 3:11-12   

                                                                                                       

By Ben Dankaka

Our ability to succeed is certain. But it can only come into effect when we maximize the power within us. To effectively use your innate power, you will have to learn how to use it. While there are several ways of becoming powerful, one of the best methods is the one that worked for Moses. As a privileged Jew in Pharaoh’s palace, Moses had tried to “acquire” power by force. But it didn’t work. When he secretly killed an Egyptian who was maltreating a Jew, instead of gaining the respect of his people, he was mocked and then he found himself on exile. 

Like Moses, perhaps you feel disappointed. To turn things around, you may have to experience the sort of encounter Moses had. Even though, God has already equipped us with the power to succeed, He still wants to guide us. Remember when Moses met God at the burning bush, he was instructed to return to Egypt and deliver the very people he once tried to rescue. But this time, Moses was charged to use his abilities through the guidance of God’s Spirit. May you also have an encounter that would revive the power within you. 

Prayer/Confession: LORD, I need an encounter that would revive the potential you have deposited in me, in Jesus name. Amen. 

REFERENCES/FURTHER STUDY:  

Exodus 2:11-15

Ephesians 3:20

Isaiah 40:29

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The Real Power

                                                                                                                     

“Real power comes when we are able to create something or do something new, with the natural abilities we’ve been given.”

                                                        

                                                                    READ: Jeremiah 10:12                                                                                                                          

By Ben Dankaka

It might interest you to know that those who think they have to be tyrannical before exercising power are under the impression that power is acquired. Power is not picked up because it is an inborn ability – we are born with it.  When you try to acquire power, you will no doubt, abandon your innate power - which is your original power and then find yourself acquiring a power that isn’t meant for you. Real power comes when we are able to create something or do something new with the innate abilities we’ve been given. 

Scripture says, “God made the earth by his power; he founded the world by his wisdom and stretched out the heavens by his understanding” (Jeremiah 10:12). Notice that when God created the earth, He neither exploited anyone nor asked anyone to do the work for Him. He created the earth by Himself, with His wisdom and understanding. Interestingly, the two qualities spring from His being. That is, from inside of God. If you want real power, you have to do what God did. Whether you want to create a product or business, it will require your wisdom and understanding. To be powerful, look inwards.

Prayer/Confession: Dear LORD, teach me your ways. 

REFERENCES/FURTHER STUDY: 

Proverbs 3:19

Proverbs 24:5

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Power Creates Wealth

“Whatever gifts we have is embedded within our spiritual, physical and mental abilities.”

                                                              READ: Deuteronomy 8:18                                                                                                               

By Ben Dankaka

Moses had advised the Israelites to acknowledge God because it is He who gives power to get wealth. What sort of power was Moses referring to? In the New International Version (NIV) of the same verse, the word, “power” is replaced with “ability”. Which means, God is the One who gives us the ability to produce wealth. But the power or ability that God has given us isn’t a magical or mythical power. In essence, the power we have consists of our mental, physical and spiritual gifts. There’s no any other power. 

So, wealth is produced through the effective use of these THREE God-given abilities, which is demonstrated through skill or talent. Those who have attained power and influence had to rely on their mental, physical or spiritual gifts. Therefore, the use or abuse of these gifts is what determines our success in life. All of the things you have achieved so far and the things you will ever achieve in this life are connected to these three abilities. Therefore, the power that enable us succeed is originally God made; not self-made.  When you recognize this power and then learn how to use it, you will succeed in every endeavor. 

Prayer/Confession: LORD, show me how to create wealth with the power you’ve given me. In Jesus Name. Amen.

REFERENCES/FURTHER STUDY: 

Genesis 1:26-28

Exodus 4:10-12

Daniel 2:21

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Acknowledge the Source of Your Power

“It is important for us to realize that God is deeply interested in our success.”

READ: Proverbs 3:16

By Ben Dankaka

In his farewell speech, Moses instructed his people to recognize God as the One who gives the power to produce wealth. Why was that important? You see, whenever we do not acknowledge God as the source of our wealth, we automatically claim His glory. One of the blunders of our generation is self-aggrandizement. Go to social media and you will see a myriad of success stories aimed at glorifying individuals at the expense of the Creator. I am not saying we shouldn’t celebrate ourselves. But when we describe ourselves as “idols” or “self-made”, we put God at the rear seat.

God is deeply interested in our success. For that reason, He expects us to put our faith in Him. The purpose is to humble us so that He can guide us along the right path. Recall that Moses had reminded the Israelites of the time God gave them manna to eat in the desert, to humble and to test them so that in the end it might go well with them (Deuteronomy 8:16). When we acknowledge God as our source, we will not only avoid the sin of self-glory, but would find ourselves progressing from one success to another. 

Prayer/Confession: Heavenly Father, I acknowledge you as the primary source of all that I have. Thank you, Lord.

REFERENCES/FURTHER STUDY: 

Deuteronomy 8:10-20

Proverbs 3:16

1 Chronicles 29:12

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The Sweetest Revenge

“Allow God to deal with the enemy.”

 KEY VERSE: 1Samuel 24:12

Written By Ben Dankaka

There’s a saying that "revenge is a dish best served cold". This statement implies that revenge is more fulfilling when it’s carried out at an unexpected time. I strongly disagree because this statement opposes what the Bible teaches. To take revenge against your enemy is wrong, and the Bible condemns it.  In his letter to the Romans, Paul warns us “not to take revenge”, but “leave room for God’s wrath” (Romans 12:19). That is, we are expected to leave vengeance for God because whoever troubles us is actually fighting God, not us. Allow God to deal with the enemy.

Recall what happened in the case between Peter and Herod. When Herod tried to kill Peter, God stepped in and rescued Peter by Himself because Herod was actually fighting God, not Peter. So, Peter acted rightly by not fighting back. He simply moved on. By that act, he left room for God’s wrath. Later, on a particular day, Herod was struck down with a blow by an angel. You might have been badly hurt by someone in the past. However, if God has already liberated you, move on and leave room for God’s wrath. God’s retribution is sweeter.

Prayer:  Holy Father, I hand it over to you. Be the Judge. Amen. 

REFERENCES/FURTHER STUDY: Acts 12:17-24

All scripture quotations are from the Holy Bible, New International Version.

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