The Gift of Gold II

We've read speculation online that the world "gold bubble" is about to burst.  But at our local poker tournaments, a gold chip remains valuable; it's worth 5,000.  So let's go back to the Tournament Director's offer of a gold chip to everyone at the Director's table -- and only that table.

We mentioned in a previous post that deal didn't seem fair.  So the Director offered to give a gold chip to everyone in the tournament, to compensate for it.

"Since you're doing it as a gift...." we answered a bit reluctantly.

Call us selfish if you wish (or perhaps practicing "Roberts's Rules of Supreme Court Health Care Decisions"), but we accepted the 5,000-chip offer for our own table.  The key word in our answer was gift -- and it actually ties in with U.S. Independence Day, and the man who told us about bigotry earlier this week.


You see, the concept that "all men are created equal" is a nice concept -- but it's not reality.  Any mother who's given birth to a disabled child probably would confirm that.  So would anyone who worked as a slave for the writers of the Declaration of Independence.  The New Testament puts it in a spiritual perspective....

We have different gifts, according to the grace given us.... - Romans 12:6

There are different kinds of gifts, but the same Spirit.  There are different kinds of service, but the same Lord. - I Corinthians 12:4-5

Paul goes on in those two chapters to list the various gifts God grants to believers -- everything from the interpretation of languages (or "tongues") to healing.  But he adds:

Are all apostles?  Are all prophets?  Are all teachers?  Do all work miracles?  Do all have gifts of healing?  Do all speak in tongues?  Do all interpret? - I Corinthians 12:29-30

(To which we would dare to add: are all cut out for playing poker successfully?)


Paul leaves the answers to his questions open, but they seem obvious -- no.  Different people have different gifts.


That "gold chip gift" may have helped us reach the final table last week.  So be thankful for whatever gifts God has given you -- even a gift of playing poker well.  If you're not sure what your gifts are, ask God in prayer to reveal them to you.  Also consult some friends you trust, as they might have noticed them a long time ago.


And here's an important P.S.: Turn to God, and seek the greatest gift of all -- a gift He wants to give everyone:

For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord. - Romans 6:23