On Sundays, the Greenville, NC newspaper The Daily Reflector carries a column on items found by Ripley's Believe It or Not. In one particular column, it pictured a plain bar of iron worth $5. The same bar of iron made into horseshoes would be worth $50. If made into needles, it would be worth $5,000, and if made into balance springs for fine Swiss watches, it would be worth $500,000.
It is not the raw material that is important, but rather how that material is developed. Each of us have various gifts, talents and abilities that are only valuable when we develop them and use them in God's Kingdom. Paul reminds us each person has a place and a ministry within the church, all for the purpose of "building up the body of Christ; until we all attain to the unity of the faith." (Epehesians 4:12-16)
Are you developing and using your raw talents, gifts, and abilities for God's kingdom? That will determine your value today.
