And now, dear brothers and sisters, I will write about the special abilities the Holy Spirit gives to each of us, for I must correct your misunderstandings about them. You know that when you were still pagans you were led astray and swept along in worshiping speechless idols. So I want you to know how to discern what is truly from God: No one speaking by the Spirit of God can curse Jesus, and no one is able to say, "Jesus is Lord," except by the Holy Spirit. Now there are different kinds of spiritual gifts, but it is the same Holy Spirit who is the source of them all. There are different kinds of service in the church, but it is the same Lord we are serving. There are different ways God works in our lives, but it is the same God who does the work through all of us. (1 Corinthians 12:1-6 NLT).

Sometimes it’s easy to feel like a square peg trying to fit in a round hole! A part of that is due to working outside our abilities and gifts. Often we encourage people to do things because they are willing to work, rather than honestly evaluating their gifts and abilities and placing them where they may succeed. Ed McManus, editor of The Jokesmith newsletter, has put out a booklet of humor about folks in human resources. It’s called “What is a Human Resource?” And in it he explains how people get assigned to particular jobs.

• You leave them in a conference room for four hours.
• Then, you go back to see what they’re doing.
• If they don’t look up when you enter the room, assign them to the Security Department.
• If they’re counting the butts in the ashtray, put them in Finance.
• If they’ve taken the table apart, put them in Engineering.
• If they’re screaming and waving their arms, send them off to Manufacturing.
• And if they’ve left early, put them in Sales.

I’m sure not advocating that kind of management! But, it does emphasize the difference in people. Once we find the right task for our gifts, we may give ourselves to it completely. Our responsibility is not how much talent we have, but what we do with what we’ve been given. S. D. Gordon wrote, “We have nothing to do with how much ability we’ve got, or how little, but with what we do with what we have. The man with great talent is apt to be puffed up, and the man with little (talent) to belittle the little. Poor fools! God gives it, much or little. Our part is to be faithful, doing the level best with every bit and scrap. And we will be if Jesus’ spirit controls.”

Be honest with yourself and give yourself to the things God has gifted you to do. That’s the place you will find peace and happiness. Floating downstream is much easier than swimming upstream! Square pegs don’t fit in round holes!