The Gift of Administration

1 Corinthians 12:28
And in the church God has appointed first of all apostles, second prophets, third teachers, then workers of miracles, also those having gifts of healing, those able to help others, those with gifts of administration, and those speaking in different kinds of tongues.

Years ago, I wondered why God created the gift of administration. I considered it one of the “lesser” gifts – not that there is such a thing. I asked God one day why He created the gift of administration and He quickly showed me that He is a God of Order. When He created the world and all that is within, He did it in an orderly fashion. On the first day, He created light and dark. On the second day, He created the sky, separating the water from the sky. On the third day, He created the land. He didn’t create light one day and go back three or four days later and create dark. There was organization and order to what He did. Okay – I got it – and once I got it, He showed me that what I had assumed I had learned over the years of being in the administration field, wasn’t the case at all. He had given me the gift of administration. To the extreme. I write that, not to brag at all, but to say that I can drive people nuts (and have done so) because I am so organized. I make lists for everything. I sometimes jokingly say I need a list of the current running lists I have!

This gift has been and is truly a blessing. It has opened doors for promotion in my career that I probably would not have gotten without this gift. It has saved my job countless times as various bosses run out the door, yelling, “where’s the…..” and I find the requested item and hand it to him/her before apoplexy starts. And the gift has helped keep me on track personally. Just don’t come to my house and look in my closets – the gift of administration stops at all my closet doors and refuses to go in!! :)

How has the gift of administration helped me spiritually? I have served in numerous volunteer positions in churches over the years and I have used this gift in many of those positions, especially in teaching and in committee work.

I have served as a Church Business Administrator for over fourteen years at two different churches. Many people do not want to think of the church as a “business” and I totally agree with their viewpoint. A church is a ministry, but there is a business aspect to it. After all, if there is not someone to make sure the power bill gets paid, the ministry will cease to function very quickly. But the gift is also used in other aspects of the church office. Countless numbers of times I have been used to talk to people who are in need of encouragement, who need prayer, who need someone to listen. I have been humbled and honored to be the one to talk and pray with them. How does administration play into that? It allows me to adjust my schedule to help these people, which is what I love to do.

I am also a Christian counselor and have had the opportunity to counsel a number of people on being organized and time management. If a person’s lack of organization prevents them, for whatever reason, from doing what God has called them to do, then that is an aspect of their life that they should work on improving so they can do the things God has for them to do.

So the gift I thought of as a “lesser” gift has and continues to play an important role in my life. I love every aspect of administration and I am grateful to God for blessing me with this gift.

Father God, Your gifts are beyond measure! How awesome it is that You know the very gifts we need and You bestow those gifts upon us! Thank you Father. May we never take any gift for granted, but use them to bring You honor and glory! AMEN!!

MARANATHA!!

(c) December 2009