How does Ezekiel 27:9 encourage us to use our talents for God's glory? Setting the Scene • Ezekiel 27 paints Tyre as a magnificent ship, staffed by experts from many lands. • Verse 9 highlights “veteran craftsmen of Gebal” who “reinforced your seams.” The Verse Up Close “Veteran craftsmen of Gebal were within you; they reinforced your seams. All the ships of the sea with their sailors came alongside to trade for your merchandise.” (Ezekiel 27:9) • Skilled workers invested their expertise to keep the city-ship seaworthy. • Their craftsmanship made Tyre attractive to the nations. Truths We Learn • God recognizes skill: the verse names the craftsmen and their precise contribution. • Skill has purpose: it “reinforced” the vessel—preventing leaks and disaster. • Skill opens doors: excellence drew “all the ships of the sea” to engage with Tyre. Connecting to Our Lives • If God singled out pagan craftsmen for commendable skill, how much more should believers excel for His glory. • Our gifts—artistic, administrative, mechanical, musical, relational—become spiritual seams that hold the church together (cf. 1 Corinthians 12:4-7). • When we steward gifts well, outsiders are drawn in, just as merchants flocked to Tyre (cf. Matthew 5:16). Examples of Talents in Scripture • Bezalel and Oholiab: Spirit-filled artisans for the tabernacle (Exodus 31:1-6). • The servants in the Parable of the Talents: rewarded for faithful use, rebuked for burying gifts (Matthew 25:14-30). • Dorcas: skilled with needle and thread, serving widows (Acts 9:36-39). • Each believer: “use whatever gift he has received to serve one another” (1 Peter 4:10). Practical Steps to Employ Our Talents 1. Identify your “craft” • Ask trusted believers what strengths they see in you. 2. Dedicate it to the Lord • “Whatever you do, work at it with your whole being, for the Lord.” (Colossians 3:23) 3. Hone the skill • Training, practice, mentorship—excellence testifies to the Creator. 4. Reinforce the seams • Look for ministry gaps where your ability can prevent “leaks” (administration, teaching, maintenance, mentoring). 5. Draw others in • Use your craft in community events, mission projects, or everyday work conversations to point people to Christ. 6. Stay humble • Remember Tyre eventually fell because pride replaced gratitude (Ezekiel 28:2). Keep glory aimed upward. Final Encouragement Ezekiel 27:9 reminds us that God notices the hands that quietly strengthen His vessel. Your talents—no matter how ordinary they seem—can fortify the church, attract the lost, and magnify His name. “We have different gifts according to the grace given us…let us use them” (Romans 12:6). |
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