Many times while playing Scrabble ® you find yourself with all vowels or no vowels.  Sometimes you have “Q” but not the “U”.  How then can you form a word?  You play on the tiles supplied by another.  If you play aggressively and block your opponent from being able to play a word you may find that you leave yourself with no place to play either.

Ephesians 4:16  … from whom the whole body, being fitted and held together by what every joint supplies, according to the proper working of each individual part, causes the growth of the body for the building up of itself in love.

The purpose for the gifts to the church in Ephesians chapter four is for the “equipping of the saints” – for the building up the body (the church).  A local church that has all teachers and no evangelists will not grow numerically just as a church with all evangelists and no teachers will not grow spiritually.  Every individual must exercise their own gift and encourage others to do the same.  The pastor/teacher builds on the work of the evangelist.

Your gift may be from one of the other lists that include abilities like helping, giving, and administrating.  In my own experience I see many who preach and teach but are not good at business (administration).  We all need each other and the gift of God that each supplies.

Among the strategies to win at Scrabble (R)  are to know the two letter words, some “z” words, and “q” words.  This requires time with a dictionary memorizing combinations of letters that apart from the game have little use in everyday conversation.

Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.  II Timothy 3:15 (KJV)

That same strategy is required of the believer who would be a servant of God.  The term translated “study” in the KJV is translated elsewhere as “diligence”, “labor” and “endeavoring”.  There is a sense of urgency (speed), work, and tenacity (not giving up quickly) in this beautiful word.

The goal of spending time in the Word of God is to equip ourselves to serve God effectively.  What skilled workman arrives at a job site without his tools?  Good professional tools are expensive and precious.  An electrician needs meters and wire-strippers, a plumber has his pipe wrenches, and a carpenter would be lost without his hammer.  In the toolbox of the servant of God should be a working knowledge of the Scriptures.  It takes time, energy, and perseverance to gain competence so that you can accurately handle God’s Word.  The goal is not to gain God’s approval, but the show it.  Let’s get to work!

One of my favorite scrabble tiles is the blank. It has no point value but it can be used in the place of any letter that I need to make a word. It is sad that so many Christians fail to see their true value. Like the blank tile, it is only when we allow the Lord to use us that we learn our true worth.

“Are not two sparrows sold for a cent? And yet not one of them will fall to the ground apart from your Father. “But the very hairs of your head are all numbered. “So do not fear; you are more valuable than many sparrows. Matthew 10:29-31

As each one has received a special gift, employ it in serving one another as good stewards of the manifold grace of God.  1 Peter 4:10 (NASB)

In Scrabble® and games based on the same principle you are given a certain number of letters to form words of varying value.  You may interact with tiles already in play but otherwise are limited to what you have been given.  One of the four lists of “Spiritual Gifts” follows the above verse.  All believers have at least one gift.  We are responsible to get the most value out of the gift that we have.  Look at what you have been given and “play your tiles” well.    SBS