Copyright 2010 Theresa Harvard Johnson
I have always had a problem with the interpretation of this scripture by some believers I’ve met over the years:
Proverbs 18:16 NKJV, “A man’s gift makes room for him and brings him before great men.”
As an Apostle in the Worship Arts, I meet people daily who worship their gifts and sabotage their own purpose and destiny. In context with how this scripture is often used and taught, men are pressed into places of worshiping their “gifts” instead of focusing on the one who released the gifts to them. It brings forth a wrong spirit, one of entitlement. One in which people believe that they are entitled to something simply because they “have or they work” a gift well.
Father said this to me this morning: “I am not shallow that I would base the merit of my Word on the operation of a gift alone. All gifts, beloved, are only attributes of the whole man.” People of God, take a moment this morning to ask yourself this question: “What does Proverbs 18:16 mean to you?”
You see, for many people in the congregation of the Lord this scripture has an intensely carnal or flesh-focused meaning. They see their gifts from a perspective of being “recognized” by MEN and brought into places of human-focused respect, popularity, power, fame, fortune and influence. It is an opportunity to “FINALLY” get out there – to be heard and seen. It is a place of lusting and desiring to be validated by men.
Even now, some who read this will quickly say, “Hey, this isn’t me.” I challenge you today to consider that it very well could be you, and Father is calling YOU into a place of repentance. Truly, this interpretation of this scripture is a far cry from what Father intended.
Never forget that as Sons of God, our primary purpose in the earth is two-fold: (1) To fulfill Matthew 28:18-20 which is to preach the Gospel and make disciples; and (2) To administer the ministry of reconciliation according to 2 Corinthians 5:15-17. PURE MINISTRY (meaning ministry without motive) is born out of the pursuit in Yahshuah our Messiah to fulfill these objectives alone. People of God, EVERYTHING must spring up out of this place – the very center of our Lord’s pursuits.
Father is asking: “Are you IN HIM? ARE YOU REALLY IN HIS SON or are you really in the world…. deceived by your own heart?” (Acts 17:28)
I am really enjoying studying the word of God from a Hebraic mindset versus that of the Greek mindset and the Westernized influence of this generation. You see, from a Hebraic perspective – that place in which all scripture was originally inspired – the correct translation of Proverbs 18:16 in the Complete Jewish Bible actually says this:
A person’s gift clears his way and gives him access to the great.
You see, THIS SOUNDS LIKE our God. This SOUNDS LIKE our Matthew 28:18-20 and 2 Corinthians 5:15-17 destiny. This gives clarity to 1 Peter 4:10 which says, “USE whatever gift you have been given to ADMINISTER the Gospel of Jesus Christ…”
In other words people of God, your gifts CLEAR THE WAY for you TO HAVE ACCESS to people who are CONSIDERED GREAT IN THE EYES OF MEN to share this wonderful Gospel message. God needed impact, influence and change to take place in the midst of those WHO HAD INFLUENCE ON MEN. (Note: This is one aspect of having access to the great. There are other levels to this, but today… I was led to discuss this specific area.)
YOUR GIFTS — ARE KEYS! THEY UNLOCK DOORS THAT CHRIST DESIRES TO WALK THROUGH WITH YOU! ONCE YOU GAIN ACCESS – YOU ARE TO USE THAT GIFT TO BRING CHRIST FORTH! YOU ARE TO POUR THE SALT AND RELEASE THE SAVOR OF THE KINGDOM!
Father is asking you TODAY: “What does Proverbs 18:16 really mean to you? What desire is really at the bottom of your heart?” Can you be REAL with Holy Spirit today and confess and repent that you’ve made this scripture ALL ABOUT YOU and YOUR GIFTS! Can you confess and repent today that your MOTIVES have been about stature in the natural and not in the spirit?
When your motives are PURE, your ministry will never be about YOU being great. When your MINISTRY is pure, your motives will never be about meeting people. It will ONLY BE ABOUT getting that message Father has placed on the inside of you INTO the ears and gates of the receiver.
Watch out for people who BRAG about who they know and where they’ve been! If you face one of them, ask them this question: “What message did you DELIVER to those people once YOUR GIFT gave you access?”
You see, people of God, when Father opens a door like that… it isn’t just to PROSPER YOUR POCKET BOOK! It isn’t JUST to GROW YOUR MINISTRY! It is to RELEASE HIS WORD! It is to STRENGTHEN HIS KINGDOM IN SOME WAY! It’s not all about you… and your thing….
- Daniel’s gift CLEARED THE WAY and GAVE HIM ACCESS to the great… King Nebuchadnezzar
- Joseph’s gift CLEARED THE WAY and GAVE HIM ACCESS to the great… King of Egypt
- Moses’ gift CLEARED THE WAY and GAVE HIM ACCESS to the great… Pharaoh
- David’s gift CLEARED THE WAYA and GAVE HIM ACCESS to the great… King Saul
We can go on and on. You see this phrase “the great” is referring to MAN’S MEASUREMENT of what “GREAT IS.” It is referring to a measure of earthly greatness that isn’t attainable by everyone. OH BUT WHEN… the humbled SERVANT and SON OF GOD comes forth… the GREATNESS THAT MEN SEE IS CRUSHED under the greatness of our God…
While Daniel, Joseph, Moses, David and others may have seemed to be NOBODY before their GIFTS cleared the way and gave them access to men of great influence. Not one of these patriarchs pursued their own. Yet they shifted nations doing all that was required when they GAINED access for godly purposes, with pure motives….
I pray that you hear what Father is saying today. So many among the congregation are ON THE WRONG PATH… and they don’t even know it. Lord God, PULL THEM BACK on the right path. Cause them to HEAR AND SEE YOU in everything that they do. BRING THEM BACK to the foundations dear Lord… where there greatness is measured by this:
Matthew 3:17 CJB, ““This is my Son, whom I love; I am well pleased with him.”
Are your giftings making room for Father to be GLORIFIED and for His Word to be fulfilled? Or are they making room for idolatry, prostitution of the Gospel and adultery? Come on, let your alignment with Father be true….{jcomments on}
