WISDOM FOR LIVING DAILY DEVOTIONAL
NOVEMBER 03, 2025
TOPIC: DON’T MISUSE YOUR GIFTS
BY T. O. BANSO
“God has given each of you special abilities; be sure to use them to help each other, passing on to others God’s many kinds of blessings” (1 Peter 4:10 Living Bible).
In Matthew 4:1-11, Satan tempted Jesus three times, and three times he failed. There are many lessons to be learned from this incident. However, I want to focus on the character of Jesus in his refusal to misuse His power.
The first two temptations by Satan focused on the use of the power that Jesus had. He asked Jesus to prove that He was the Son of God by commanding stones to become bread. Jesus could have listened to Satan and done that because He had the power to do so, as He later turned water into wine at a wedding feast (John 2:1-11). But Jesus refused to turn stones into bread. He said, “It is written, ‘Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God’” (Matthew 4:4 New King James Version).
In the second temptation, Satan wanted Jesus to prove that He was the Son of God by throwing Himself down from the pinnacle of the temple. Jesus didn’t yield to such misuse of power. He said again, “It is written again, ‘You shall not tempt the Lord your God’” (verse 7).
Even the third temptation had to do with self-interest, and Jesus refused to succumb to Satan’s temptation. He wasn’t on earth on any ego trip to possess all the kingdoms of the world and their glory, using Satan’s strategy, but to do the will of God.
There is a lesson for God’s children not to misuse their gifts or power. That you have power (spiritual or natural) to do something, or you have a particular gift (spiritual or natural), doesn’t mean you must use it. Jesus could cause stones to become bread, and He could jump from the top of the temple without being hurt. But of what use would these miracles be? What would be the motive of such miracles? – To prove a point or to impress whom?
Jesus didn’t need to prove any point, as Satan wanted Him to do. He didn’t need to prove to anyone that He was the Son of God. You must not use the gift or power that God has given you to prove any point. God’s gift or power that He has given to humans is not to impress anyone. It is not for personal aggrandisement or dishonest gain.
Jesus refused to use His power irresponsibly or for selfish purposes. Every anointed person is sent to be a blessing to others. “And he gave some to be apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers; for the perfecting of the saints, unto the work of ministering, unto the building up of the body of Christ” (Ephesians 4:11-12 American Standard Version).
Each time Jesus used His power for miracles, He was always moved by compassion to help people, not because He was seeking fame. For example, the feeding of five thousand people and four thousand people (Matthew 14:14-21; 15:32-38). He did both miracles out of compassion. However, in John 4:8, His disciples had to go and buy food in the village, obviously for their own consumption, not for the usual multitudes. Jesus didn’t use His power to perform a miracle of food supply.
However, Samson, a judge in Israel, used the extraordinary physical strength God gave him for his personal advantage in Judges 16:1-3. God never sent him to sleep with a harlot, but when he was in trouble, he used his supernatural strength to escape. While the Gazites were lying in wait to kill him, he pulled up the doors of the gate of the city and the two gateposts by midnight, and carried them on his shoulders to the top of the hill, and escaped. The fact that, after Samson had spent the night with a harlot, the extraordinary power that God gave him still worked was not proof that God approved of what he did. Whoever is pleased that God keeps using him despite his sinful lifestyle is laying up trouble for himself. One day, he will not escape what he has been getting away with.
The Bible says that thereafter, Samson fell in love with a woman, Delilah, who lived in the valley of Sorek. The Philistines’ rulers told her to lure Samson to tell her the secret of his great strength and how he could be overpowered, tied up, and subdued. After trying repeatedly, she was successful. Samson disclosed to her what he wasn’t supposed to tell anyone. After this, Delilah lulled him to sleep with his head in her lap, shaved off the seven locks of his hair, and he lost his superhuman strength.
Judges 16:20 says, “And she said, ‘The Philistines are upon you, Samson!’ So he awoke from his sleep, and said, ‘I will go out as before, at other times, and shake myself free!’ But he did not know that the Lord had departed from him” (New King James Version). On this occasion, Samson wanted to use his special gift from God for personal advantage again, even when his life contradicted the Word of God, the God who had given him the power.
The Philistines humiliated Samson after capturing him and removing his eyes. They chained him and made him grind grain in their prison. While they were celebrating his capture, they brought him from the prison, and he performed for them. “Then Samson prayed to the Lord, ‘Lord God, remember me. God, please give me strength one more time so I can pay these Philistines back for putting out my two eyes!’ Then Samson turned to the two center pillars that supported the whole temple. He braced himself between the two pillars, with his right hand on one and his left hand on the other. Samson said, ‘Let me die with these Philistines!’ Then he pushed as hard as he could, causing the temple to fall on the rulers and all the people in it. So Samson killed more of the Philistines when he died than when he was alive” (Judges 16:28-30 New Century Version).
Live a holy life (Leviticus 11:44; 20:7; 1 Peter 1:16). Without holiness, nobody will see the Lord (Hebrews 12:14). Repent of any sinful lifestyle that encourages you to misuse or abuse God’s gift in your life. You cannot go on sinning so that grace may increase (Romans 6:1). Obey the Word of God and the Holy Spirit. Don’t be carried away by your gifts. Live to please the Giver.
When Moses, contrary to God’s instruction, struck the rock twice to give the Israelites water, instead of speaking to it, water still came out. Nevertheless, God didn’t allow Moses and Aaron to enter the Promised Land because they didn’t trust Him enough to honour Him as holy in the sight of the Israelites (Numbers 20:7-13).
Avoid misuse or abuse of the gifts that God has given you, especially spiritual gifts. “God has given each of you some special abilities; be sure to use them to help each other, passing on to others God’s many kinds of blessings” (1 Peter 4:10 Living Bible). Don’t use your gifts to draw attention to yourself instead of Jesus. Don’t use your gifts for ego boosting, ungodly financial gain, manipulation, competition, or comparison.
You are a steward of God’s gifts. “As each one has received a gift, minister it to one another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God” (1 Peter 4:10 New King James Version). Be a faithful and wise steward (Luke 12:42a). It is required in stewards that one be found faithful (1 Corinthians 4:2).
TAKE ACTION!
If you are not born again, you must give your heart to Jesus now. Please take the following steps: *Admit that you are a sinner and you cannot save yourself, and repent of your sins. *Confess Jesus as your Lord and Saviour. *Renounce your past way of life – your relationship with the devil and his works. *Invite Jesus into your heart. *As a mark of seriousness to mature in the faith, start attending a Bible-believing, Bible-teaching, and Bible-practising church. There, they will teach you how to grow in the Kingdom of God.
Kindly say this prayer now: O Lord God, I come unto You today. I know I am a sinner, and I cannot save myself. I believe that Jesus is the Son of God who died on the cross to save me, and God raised Him on the third day. I repent of my sins and confess Jesus as my Lord and Saviour. I invite Jesus into my heart. By this prayer, I know I am saved. Thank You, Jesus, for saving me and making me a child of God.
I believe you have said this prayer from your heart. Congratulations! You must join a Bible-believing, Bible-teaching, and Bible-practising church where they will teach you how to live your new life in Christ Jesus. I pray that you flourish like a palm tree and grow like a cedar of Lebanon. May you grow into Christ in all things and become all God wants you to be. I will be glad to hear from you. The Lord be with you..
PRAYER POINTS: Father, I will not misuse or abuse the gifts You have given me. I will be a faithful and wise steward; I will use Your gifts in my life to Your glory, knowing that I am accountable to You. Please help me, Holy Spirit.
(For over 900 in-depth and powerful messages by T. O. Banso, visit www.cedarministry.org).
T. O. Banso is the President of Cedar Ministry International, Abuja, Nigeria.
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