Spirit Filled Gifts, Skills, and Talents
Exodus 35:31–35 (NIV)
31 and he has filled him with the Spirit of God, with wisdom, with understanding, with knowledge and with all kinds of skills—32 to make artistic designs for work in gold, silver and bronze, 33 to cut and set stones, to work in wood and to engage in all kinds of artistic crafts. 34 And he has given both him and Oholiab son of Ahisamak, of the tribe of Dan, the ability to teach others. 35 He has filled them with skill to do all kinds of work as engravers, designers, embroiderers in blue, purple and scarlet yarn and fine linen, and weavers—all of them skilled workers and designers.
When God gave the Israelites the plans for the construction of the Tabernacle, he also provided the resources, skills, and abilities to accomplish it. In these verses we learn that two specific persons, Bezalel, and Oholiab, had been filled by the Spirit of God, and given special abilities, such as engraving, designing, and embroidery. God had also given them the ability to teach these skills to others. It is unclear what was a natural talent, a skill learned, and a special gift by the Holy Spirit, however in the end it doesn’t really matter as they were all given by God for a God-given purpose of constructing the Tabernacle. In 1 Cor. 12 we are told that all who receive Christ and therefore the Spirit, are given special gifts or abilities by the Spirit (several are listed). Some persons get bogged down in whether the gifts are supernatural or enhanced natural abilities or talents, whereas Paul was trying to point out that we are given these gifts to work together in the body of Christ, the Church. How are we using the gifts, skills, and abilities God has given us with other Christians to advance God’s kingdom, and make disciples of Jesus Christ?