There’s nothing wrong with being impressed by someone’s gift. God gives people incredible abilities, and it’s good to recognize and celebrate them. The problem comes when our attention starts staying on the person instead of the God who gave the gift.
That was at the heart of Pastor Todd Doxzon’s message, You Are A Tool, from Acts 14. Whether God is using someone else or using us, the reminder is the same: the gift may be valuable, but the glory still belongs to God.
When Admiration Becomes Worship
In Acts 14, Paul and Barnabas encounter a man who had been unable to walk since birth. Paul tells him to stand, and the man immediately gets to his feet and begins walking. The crowd is so amazed by what they witness that they begin treating Paul and Barnabas like gods.
Paul and Barnabas quickly stop them, saying, “Friends, why are you doing this? We are merely human beings, just like you!” (Acts 14:15).
Their response is a reminder that being used by God does not make us the source of what God is doing. The people in Lystra saw something miraculous, but their attention landed on the tool instead of the One using it.
Thank the Surgeon, Not the Scalpel
Pastor Todd illustrated this with a story from his football career. After suffering a serious foot injury while playing in Europe, he underwent surgery that allowed him to eventually return to the game.
Imagine the surgeon walking into the hospital room after successfully repairing the injury, only for the patient to ignore him and start thanking the scalpel. It wouldn’t make sense. The scalpel was useful, but the skill and ability belonged to the surgeon.
The same is true when God uses people in our lives. A pastor may teach something that changes us. A friend may encourage us at exactly the right moment. A leader may help point us in a new direction. It’s right to honor those people, but our gratitude should ultimately lead us back to God.
There’s Freedom in Being the Tool
Calling ourselves a tool may not sound especially exciting, but there’s freedom in it. We don’t have to create the outcome, be the most gifted person in the room, or make people remember our name. We simply get to make ourselves available to God.
Pastor Todd shared about a moment during his college football career when he was ready to quit. One of his coaches challenged him at exactly the right time, and Pastor Todd decided to stay. Years later, he could look back and see how much of his life was connected to that one conversation.
His coach may not have known the full impact of what he said. He simply allowed God to use him. Sometimes that’s what being a tool in God’s hand looks like. A conversation, a prayer, an encouragement, or simply showing up at the right time can become part of someone else’s story.
Keep the Glory in the Right Place
We can lose perspective in two directions. When God uses us, we can begin taking credit for what He is doing. And when God uses someone else, we can give that person more weight than they were ever meant to carry.
Both require the same heart check.
When God uses someone, appreciate the gift without putting the person on a pedestal. When God uses you, be grateful for the opportunity and give God the credit. Pastor Todd shared a definition from Warren Wiersbe that describes ministry as divine resources meeting human needs through loving channels to the glory of God. That last part is what keeps everything in the right place.
Our gifts were never meant to make our names bigger. They’re meant to help people see God more clearly. You are not the Surgeon. You are the scalpel.
And there is freedom in knowing you were never meant to carry the weight that belongs to Him.
We are a community in Omaha, Nebraska helping people experience God’s best for their lives. Sundays at 9 + 11 AM.
