Aim: to encourage Christians to discover and use their particular gifts.
Thesis: When we find and use our particular gifts we grow spiritually, but when we are forced into areas of service for which we’re not suited, we’re like ducks out of water.
Introduction:
Once upon a time all was peaceful in the bird kingdom. Each bird was happy, content, and productive in his own way. The birds spent their days busily building their nests, gathering foods, and feeding their young. In the evenings, just at dusk, they would stop their work and all gather in the branches of the trees and sing their songs of praise to God; and as every bird would join in the music their little voices would blend in the sweetest melody you can imagine.
But one evening, as the singing faded away and the shadows deepened, brother Magpie flew to the top of the tree, perched on the highest branch, and began to speak. “My brother birds,” he cried out, “I am disturbed, deeply disturbed, by what I see around me. I don’t mean to ruffle any feathers, mind you, but I’m afraid you birds are an avian disgrace.”
“Why, whatever do you mean?” cawed the Crow.
“Yes, I say, you’re a disgrace to all birddom!” repeated the Magpie, “just look at yourselves! No two of you are alike! One of you is brown, one black, one red. Haven’t you ever heard the saying, ‘Birds of a feather flock together’? Yet here you are, all speckled and spotted and streaked – what a fine sight you make?”
“But, what can we do about that?”, cooed the Dove, “we’ve always been this way. We can’t change our feathers now!”
“Maybe not,” agreed the Magpie, “but a bird should be a bird! That means that each one of us should be like all the others! If you ask me, we should set up a school, with strict guidelines, and train every bird in all the ways of bird life!”
They agreed to this, and established the INSTITUTE OF HIGHER BIRD KNOWLEDGE, with Magpie (naturally) as the president. He immediately assigned the birds in pairs, so that each could teach the other what he knew about being a bird.
The OWL attempted to teach the HAWK how to hunt at night – but the hawk couldn’t quite get the hang of it, because he kept bumping into the trees in the dark. So the HAWK tried to teach the OWL how to hunt in the daytime, but the owl grew so sleepy he couldn’t concentrate, and he missed all the best opportunities.
The PELICAN tried to teach the PARROT how to fish, but the parrot was so noisy, he frightened the fish away; then the PARROT gave the PELICAN voice lessons until he was hoarse, but no matter how hard he tried, the pelican could only screech!
Meanwhile, the WOODPECKER was busy trying to teach the CHICKEN how to drill in the side of a tree, but the poor chicken mashed her beak and got a terrible headache; so she demonstrated the art of scratching in the dirt, saying, “It’s very simple; anyone can do it” – but the woodpecker’s feet were so accustomed to hanging on the side of a tree that he couldn’t scratch, and he was quite embarrassed!
The EAGLE tried his best to get the HUMMINGBIRD to soar above the mountains, but her tiny wings couldn’t lift her above the treetops, and the eagle became very impatient; later, she demonstrated the proper way to hover, but when the eagle tried it he flopped straight to the ground and broke three tail feathers. When the hummingbird made the mistake of laughing the eagle lost his temper entirely!
But the worst by far were the PEACOCK and the DUCK! When the peacock saw that he had been assigned the duck as a partner, the peacock threw back all of his magnificent plumage, strutted around and around him and exclaimed – “We simply must give you some grace – we’ll teach you to dance, and get rid of that dreadful waddle of yours!” Well, they tried – they tried ballet, and the waltz, and even square dancing, but no matter how hard he tried, the duck could only waddle. The peacock sniffed in disgust, marched down to the pond for his swimming lesson, and promptly almost drowned when his long tail feathers pulled him under!
As you can see, things were not going well in the bird family at all. They were bruised and sleepy, hoarse and hungry, angry and embarrassed – everyone was miserable.
It all came to a head one day when the duck, who had just flunked tap dancing for the third time, couldn’t take it any longer. He looked down at his big webbed feet and cried, “I’ll never be a dancer! What am I doing here? I’m going back to the pond!” And off he waddled to the water, jumped in, where he swam around as gracefully as Esther Williams.
Gradually it dawned on the other birds, as they noticed how happy the duck was to be back in the pond, that maybe it was all right to be different and that if you are a bird you don’t have to be like every other bird. And they decided that rather than being frustrated trying to be what they’re not, they should be glad for what they are, and concentrate on doing what they’re best at. So they quietly disbanded the school, when back to their former occupations, and they were all much relieved (especially the chicken, who had a very sore beak), and they all praised the duck for his wisdom and insight.
And from that day to this, when any of the birds is becoming frustrated because he mistakenly thinks he has to be something he’s not, the others encourage him by reminding him – “You don’t have to be like a duck out of water!”
And that’s why ducks don’t dance – because ducks swim!
READ TEXT. I have four questions:
1. HAVE YOU EVER FELT LIKE “A DUCK OUT OF WATER” AT CHURCH?
Maybe you need to find your place! EVERYONE is uncomfortable somewhere, and everyone belongs somewhere. The penguin looks clumsy (on land) – but put him in the water and he’s a model of grace! The camel appears to be an awkward animal – ah, but put him in the desert, and he’s indispensable!
So if you feel like “a duck out of water,” keep looking for a ministry that fits you! After all, Romans 12:6 says ‘We have DIFFERENT gifts, according to the grace given us”
2. HAVE YOU EVER COMPLAINED YOU HAVE NO GIFTS TO OFFER?
Maybe you need to reconsider. Even the tiny hummingbird has a place in God’s creation – surely he has a place for me! Our text reminds us that God wants us to know what we’re good at. A false modesty dishonors the God who made us!
Romans 12:3 “Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought, but rather think of yourself with sober judgment, in accordance with the measure of faith God has given you.”
The opposite of pride is not ignorance, but humility: a realistic view of what we can do!
3. HAVE YOU EVER PUT YOUR TALENTS TO USE?
If not, you definitely need to get started! Jesus emphatically taught that we cannot be saved if we are not willing to serve, so use the gifts you have!
Romans 12: 6 “If a man’s gift is prophesying, let him use it in proportion to his faith. If it is serving, let him serve; if it is teaching, let him teach…….”
CONCLUSION:
4. HAVE YOU EVER BEEN TEMPTED TO COMPARE YOURSELF TO OTHERS? Then I have one word for you: QUIT! You’re denying your own uniqueness.
Don’t be a birdbrain! We are ALL “gifted and talented”: Romans 12:6 – “We have different gifts…” If you’re an eagle Christian, don’t expect the hummingbird disciples to fly like you! Stop criticizing, and soar! If you’re a duck Christian, don’t be discouraged if you can’t dance! Start swimming!
When we allow the Lord to use us, it all works out! Whatever our gift, if we are willing to serve, and if we will co-operate with others, then the whole body works together and God is glorified!
Dan Williams
