UNIT 2 - THE SACRAMENT OF CONFIRMATION I. CONFIRMATION IN SCRIPTURE

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1 UNIT 2 - THE SACRAMENT OF CONFIRMATION I. CONFIRMATION IN SCRIPTURE A. Intrductin Baptism is just the beginning f ur Christian jurney. This jurney is difficult and in it, we need a lt f grace. Each f the 7 Sacraments gives us particular graces t help us n this jurney t heaven and ur unin with the Lrd. B. Cnfirmatin in Scripture Old Testament Oil was used in the Old Testament t anint: Kings Priests Prphets CCC 436 The wrd "Christ" cmes frm the Greek translatin f the Hebrew Messiah, which means "aninted". It became the name prper t Jesus nly because he accmplished perfectly the divine missin that "Christ" signifies. In effect, in Israel thse cnsecrated t Gd fr a missin that he gave were aninted in his name. This was the case fr kings, fr priests and, in rare instances, fr prphets. This had t be the case all the mre s fr the Messiah whm Gd wuld send t inaugurate his kingdm definitively. It was necessary that the Messiah be aninted by the Spirit f the Lrd at nce as king and priest, and als as prphet. Jesus fulfilled the messianic hpe f Israel in his threefld ffice f priest, prphet and king. Read Exdus 40:12-15 and 1 Samuel 10:1 Exdus 40 Mses anints Aarn and his sns as priests 1 Samuel - Samuel anints Saul as king f Israel 1 Samuel 16:13 After Samuel aninted David with il, the Spirit f the Lrd rushed upn him. The Spirit f the Lrd came mightily upn David frm that day frward. Why were they aninted? Priests, prphets, and kings had an ffice f such magnitude and respnsibility that they needed divine assistance signified and effected by aninting The aninting with il imparted the Spirit f Gd t empwer thse cmmissined t serve Gd in a special way The il becmes a symbl f the aninting f the Hly Spirit that cmes upn thse aninted with il. Thse cnsecrated t Gd fr a missin were aninted in his name Messiah and Christ What d the Hebrew term messiah and the Greek term christ literally mean? Messiah = aninted ne Christ = aninted ne During the exile, it became the title fr the future king wh wuld lead Israel ut f exile and restre the kingdm. Prphets fretld that there wuld be smene whm the Lrd wuld anint with His Spirit, wh wuld redeem Israel (cf. Is. 61:1) 1

2 Isaiah 11:1-2 But a sht shall sprut frm the stump f Jesse, and frm his rts a bud shall blssm. The spirit f the LORD shall rest upn him, a spirit f wisdm and f understanding, A spirit f cunsel and f strength, a spirit f knwledge and f fear f the LORD. New Testament Jesus Christ the Messiah Luke 1:35 Jesus is cnceived and cmes int being by the pwer f the Hly Spirit Luke 3:21-22 The baptism f Jesus the Hly Spirit descends n Him. Jesus is aninted with the Hly Spirit Luke 4:1-2 Luke 4:16-19 Jhn 16:7-13 Immediately after Jesus is baptized, he is led int the desert by the pwer f the Spirit. After his 40 days in the desert, he ges t Galilee in the pwer f the Spirit t begin his public ministry. We see that the Spirit is preparing Christ t be sent n missin. In his first public appearance and sermn, Jesus stands up in frnt f the peple and tells them that He is the lng- awaited Messiah r aninted ne. He is the ne wh fulfills the Old Testament prphecy in this regard. Jesus prmises He will send the Hly Spirit t them after He ascends t Heaven. The same Spirit that aninted Him, wuld als cme t anint and descend n each ne f his fllwers. This is fulfilled n the day f Pentecst and each time the Apstles lay hands n peple thereafter. Acts 1:4-5 Jesus again prmises that the Apstles will be baptized with the Hly Spirit. The Descent f the Hly Spirit n the Church Pentecst (Acts 2) The utpuring f the Hly Spirit was nt ging t be reserved nly fr the Messiah, but fr all that fllwed him. They were t be a messianic peple. The Church is brn and established as a messianic peple, als filled with the Hly Spirit, at Pentecst. This utpuring f the Hly Spirit is prphesized by the prphet Jel in Jel 3:1-2. This prphecy is fulfilled at Pentecst. Read the accunt f Pentecst in Acts 2. Sme imprtant cnsideratins frm the event f Pentecst. The presence f the Hly Spirit changes the Apstles frm timid and fearful t bld and curageus preachers. They were ready t g t the crners f the wrld t preach abut Jesus, and ready even t give their lives fr him. The cming f the Hly Spirit unites the Church. This is symblized by the fact that all are able t understand in their wn language. This reverses the event f the Twer f Babel, in which the peples were divided because they were pursuing evil things. Nw, the Lrd takes them frm many natins and unites them int ne Cathlic (universal) Church. The presence f the Hly Spirit cnveys a jy and freedm t thse wh pssess him. In Acts 2:15, the Apstles are accused f being intxicated with wine. Hwever, it was instead a sber intxicatin f the Hly Spirit that gave them this authentic and lasting jy and freedm. Their presence and preaching was s effective (because f the Hly Spirit) that 3000 peple cnverted. The same Hly Spirit that changed the Apstles s drastically is als prmised t all thse wh repent and are baptized (Acts 2:38). CCC 1288 The Sacrament f Cnfirmatin perpetuates the grace f Pentecst in the Church. The Laying n f Hands the Cmpletin f Baptism 2

3 We see in the New Testament that the laying n f hands ver peple brught the gift f the Spirit upn them. This laying n f hands became the fundamental sign and instrument f the Sacrament f Cnfirmatin. We see in Acts f Apstles that the gift f the Hly Spirit is given separate frm baptism. It is actually the cmpletin f the Sacrament f Baptism. Cnfirmatin is intimately linked t baptism, yet it is still distinct frm it. St. Thmas Aquinas called Cnfirmatin the Sacrament f the fullness f grace because the graces f Baptism reach their prper end and perfectin in the receptin f Cnfirmatin. Acts 8:14-17 and 19:5-6. The laying n f hands (Cnfirmatin) the fulfillment f Baptism. We see in these passages f Acts that baptism was nt cmplete until the Apstles laid hands n them, and the Hly Spirit came t them. Baptism itself did nt cnfer this gift. We see that it was a separate event f srts that was needed in additin t baptism. The minister f this Sacrament was an Apstle. Hence, the rdinary ministers f Cnfirmatin are the successrs f the Apstles (the bishps). When hands are laid n them, the Hly Spirit is given t them. Hebrews 6:2 als makes a very clear distinctin between baptism and the laying n f hands. Therefre, let us leave behind the basic teaching abut Christ and advance t maturity, withut laying the fundatin all ver again: repentance frm dead wrks and faith in Gd, instructin abut baptisms and laying n f hands, resurrectin f the dead and eternal judgment. Very early n, the use f perfumed il (chrism) was added t the laying n f hands. The Hly Spirit and Missin The cming f the Spirit indicates that the persn is nw sent n a missin. Their life changes, in that they are nw given a special missin which they need t fulfill. Jesus begins his public ministry with the descent f the Hly Spirit upn him The Church begins her missin at Pentecst with the utpuring f the Hly Spirit (Acts 2:3) C. The Hly Spirit and Christians Tday The cming f the Spirit makes us Christians CCC 1289 Very early, the better t signify the gift f the Hly Spirit, an aninting with perfumed il (chrism) was added t the laying n f hands. This aninting highlights the name "Christian," which means "aninted" and derives frm that f Christ himself whm Gd "aninted with the Hly Spirit." This rite f aninting has cntinued ever since, in bth East and West. Fr this reasn the Eastern Churches call this sacrament Chrismatin, aninting with chrism, r myrn which means "chrism." In the West, the term Cnfirmatin suggests that this sacrament bth cnfirms and strengthens baptismal grace. Withut the Spirit f Christ in us, we are nt able t be like Him, be united t Him, and r have a share in his life. It is the singular thing that makes us truly a Christian. St. Thmas Aquinas said that the first in intentin is the last in executin. This means that the last thing Gd des (send the Hly Spirit t live in us), was actually his riginal intentin. This is the intimacy that He desires t have with us all alng, but it tk many ther things t actually bring it abut. Fr example, if yu have the gal f winning a ftball champinship (intentin), it will actually be the last thing yu d (execute). Yu will have t d many ther things first, in rder t accmplish the thing yu actually intended t accmplish frm the beginning. We t are aninted nes we need pwer f Hly Spirit t fllw Jesus It is Christ s very wn life and Spirit living in us. Beginning with Jesus cnceptin, He des everything in the pwer f the Spirit. This is hw we are t live ur lives as well ttally dcile and receptive t the mvements f the Hly Spirit. Ezekiel 36:25-27 and Jel 3:1-2. These passages tell us abut the relatinship between the Spirit and the Messianic peple: the fullness f the Spirit is cmmunicated t the whle Messianic peple (it s fr everyne). 3

4 II. LIFE IN THE SPIRIT A. The 7 Gifts f the Hly Spirit Wisdm Cmes frm the Latin wrd sapientia, which means t taste. With wisdm, we are able t taste r experience in an intimate way the mind and nature f Gd. Mary is the seat f Wisdm. It is the ability t judge crrectly nt accrding t human thinking but accrding t Gd s will and Gd s way f discerning and thinking. Wisdm des NOT equal intelligence. There are many intelligent peple withut wisdm, and there are many peple withut much intelligent, but great in wisdm. It is the highest f all the gifts f the Hly Spirit. Read Wisdm 7:7-30 Understanding Allws us t penetrate and understand mre deeply the divine mysteries f Gd and the Cathlic faith. Understanding Gd cmes nly frm the Hly Spirit. Withut the Hly Spirit it is very difficult t see rightly the truths f the Faith and the truth abut wh Gd is. If we have difficulty understanding sme teaching f the faith, we shuld pray fr this gift. Cunsel This gift helps Christians t knw what they shuld r shuld nt d in every situatin that demands a mral decisin. T grw in this gift, we must grw in ur knwledge f Christ. We must knw hw He acts in rder t knw hw we are t act. Frtitude Curage t defend and live the demands f the Christian life in the midst f difficulties, sufferings, r persecutin. The Christian life is nt easy. It is ften like running a marathn, with its many ups and dwns and a desire t smetimes give up. Frtitude helps us t keep ging, t persevere, knwing that we are seeking a higher prize. I have cmpeted well; I have finished the race; I have kept the faith. Frm nw n, the crwn f righteusness awaits me, which the Lrd, the just judge, will award me n that day, and nt nly t me, but t all wh have lnged fr his appearance. (2 Tim 4:7-8) Knwledge Allws Christian t achieve deeper knwledge f divine truth. It gives the Christian the supernatural light t see that all creatin, ur gd actins, and all the gd achieved in human histry cmes frm Gd and is directed tward him. All mments f life and all creatin have meaning Christ is fund in all f it. Piety Understanding that we are sns and daughter f Gd. We can call him Abba r daddy (divine filiatin) With it, we see Gd as ur Father and thers as brthers and sisters. Leads t a lve f Gd and neighbr that puts ur relatinship with Him and thers in rder. Fear f the Lrd Lve f Gd and fear f displeasing him. It recgnizes him as Gd and as the authrity in ur lives. Clsely cnnected t piety and divine filiatin. The gift f the Hly Spirit is based in LOVE, nt simply fear f punishment. 4

5 III. THE SACRAMENT OF CONFIRMATION A. The Effects f Cnfirmatin (CCC ) A special utpuring f the Hly Spirit like the Apstles received n Pentecst An increase and deepening f baptismal grace Unites us mre firmly t Christ We becme mre united with the Church Increases the 7 gifts f the Hly Spirit in us It gives us a special strength f the Hly Spirit t spread and defend the faith; t be true witnesses t Christ; t be bld and curageus in ur witness; t nt be ashamed f the Crss. It marks us with indelible spiritual mark ne that can never be erased. B. The Signs and the Rite f Cnfirmatin (CCC ) Matter: sacred il (sacred chrism) It is live il mixed with a small amunt f balsam. This il is cnsecrated by the bishp n Hly Thursday (Chrism Mass) The Oil f Catechumens and Oil f the Sick is als cnsecrated n this day. Symblism: Olive il is a symbl f abundance and jy. Balsam il (which is scented) is a symbl f the arma f Christ as described by St. Paul. Frm: Be sealed with the gift f the Hly Spirit These are the wrds spken by the Apstles n Pentecst. The wrds are said when the bishp anints the persn with il and lays his hands n the persn s frehead. Minister: the bishp The bishp is the rdinary minister f the Sacrament. In the early Church, it was the Apstles. Later, in the Churches funded by the Apstles, it was the lcal bishps (their successrs). A priest can nly give this sacrament if he is given the faculty f ding s by the bishp. The priest is cnsidered the extrardinary minister. Only the bishp can cnsecrate the chrism il that is used in the sacrament. If smene is in danger f death, any priest can administer the sacrament. The Church des nt want anyne t depart the wrld withut this sacrament, t depart withut having been perfected by the Hly Spirit with the gift f Christ s fullness. (CCC 1314) Other signs and rites Cnfirmatin Spnsr Fulfills the same rle as the baptismal spnsr. Highly apprpriate that is the same persn as ne f the baptismal spnsrs/gdparents. Shuld be a practicing Cathlic. Cnfirmatin Name Usually the name f Saint yu admire. Symblizes that we are made a cmpletely new persn in Christ. In the early Church, upn receiving baptism, many peple wuld abandn their pagan name and take a Christian name. This traditin fell int disuse as the baptism f children became the nrm, and the baby was given a Christian name at birth. 5

6 Beginning in the fifth century, it als became cmmn that mnks and nuns, wh had given their lives ttally t Christ, wuld take a new names t symblize their new vcatin. This practice is still very cmmn tday. The aninting with il It imprints a spiritual seal an indelible mark. A seal is a mark f wnership n smething. Sldiers were marked with their leaders seal; slaves were marked with the seal f their master. Christ said He was marked with the seal f his Father. We are marked with this same seal, which means we belng t Christ. Read 2 Crinthians 1:21-22 A persn f any age can receive it Sme receive it at birth with all the sacraments f Initiatin. (in the Eastern Rites) In the West traditinally given at the age f discretin In the United States this is between the ages f 7 and 17. C. Preparing fr Cnfirmatin Requirements t receive the Sacrament (fr thse wh have reached the age f reasn): Have received Baptism Prfess the Faith Be in the state f grace If smene is in the state r mrtal sin, they will nt receive the graces f the Sacrament. The indelible mark wuld be imprinted n their sul, but the graces wuld nt be infused until the persn is prperly dispsed (ges t cnfessin). When the persn ges t cnfessin, they shuld cnfess having received the Sacrament f Cnfirmatin imprperly. Have the intentin f receiving the sacrament Be prepared t assume the rle f disciple and witness t Christ Usually a persn ges thrugh instructin in the Faith befre receiving the Sacrament. CCC Preparatin fr Cnfirmatin shuld aim at leading the Christian tward a mre intimate unin with Christ and a mre lively familiarity with the Hly Spirit - his actins, his gifts, and his biddings - in rder t be mre capable f assuming the apstlic respnsibilities f Christian life. T this end catechesis fr Cnfirmatin shuld strive t awaken a sense f belnging t the Church f Jesus Christ, the universal Church as well as the parish cmmunity. The latter bears special respnsibility fr the preparatin f cnfirmands. D. Cnfirmatin in the East and in the West West: Called Cnfirmatin Baptism is given first (usually as an infant), and cnfirmatin is given later, usually as a yung adult, at an age f discretin, determined by the lcal Church. Frehead is aninted with il. The minister is usually the lcal bishp. East: Called Chrismatin Origin cmes frm the wrd chrism which is the hly il used t anint thse being cnfirmed. Baptism and Cnfirmatin are still given at the same time, even in the case f infants. Eyes, nse, ears, lips, chest, back, hands, feet are aninted with il (symbl f the entire persn being cnsecrated t Christ). The minister is the priest. 6

7 IV. PRIEST, PROPHET, KING LIVING OUT THE SACRAMENT OF CONFIRMATION AND SHARING IN THE MISSION OF CHRIST A. Being an Authentic Christian At Cnfirmatin in a special way, we are prfessing t live ut ur faith in a fuller and mre authentic way. We are taking ur place in the Bdy f the Church, prmising t fulfill the missin Gd has entrusted t us. We d this thrugh: Prayer and the Sacraments This is the way we cme t knw the Lrd and lve Him. It is where we receive the strength t live a life f lve and genersity, accrding t His cmmands. The witness f a life lived authentically. Wrds that speak Truth, speak abut the faith, and build up with kindness, genersity and lve. Only if ur witness is jyful will we attract men and wmen t Christ. And this jy is a gift which is nurished by a life f prayer, meditatin n the wrd f Gd, the celebratin f the sacraments and life in cmmunity. This is very imprtant. When these are lacking, weaknesses and difficulties will emerge t dampen the jy we knew s well at the beginning f ur jurney. (Ppe Francis, August 16, 2014) B. 3- Fld Missin f Priest, Prphet and King As we have already seen, in the Old Testament, priests, prphets and kings were aninted in a special way by Gd t fulfill a special missin. Jesus is the aninted ne wh fulfills perfectly all 3 f these rles f Priest, Prphet and King. As Christians, we t share in this 3- fld missin f Christ. Jesus, the King f Heaven and Earth Jesus is the ruler f all creatin. We t are given a special dminin ver creatin. Gd gave Adam and Eve dminin ver all the earth. This dminin meant that they were t care fr and cultivate it and use it fr their gd. We are all given gifts material, spiritual, talents, etc. We are called t use these gifts t cperate in the building up f the Kingdm f Gd, the Church. Each ne f us has a part t play in the Bdy. We must all play this part fr the bdy t functin prperly. T serve is t reign. (Jhn Paul II) Thugh Jesus is King, He came t earth t serve. His whle missin was a missin f service n ur behalf ur salvatin. He washed the feet f his Apstles, and he suffered and died fr ur sake. Mary als was Gd s faithful servant. At the Annunciatin, she said, Behld, I am the servant f the Lrd. Let it be dne unt me accrding t thy wrd. Her whle life was a life f service t her Sn and Gd s plan. She nw reigns as Queen f Heaven and Earth. St. Jseph ffered his life at the service f the Mther and the Child. His life was a life f self- dnatin t Gd and his Mther. Satan It is said that Satan s fall came precisely because he said, I will nt serve. 7

8 Naturally, he was the greatest f all creature in heaven and earth. Hwever, he wuld nt lwer himself t serve thse belw him. And nw he is nly king f the netherwrld. We must be kings f urselves. We must put under ur dminin that passins f ur bdies and emtins. Our suls strengthened by the life and grace f Jesus must have dminin ver us. We Jesus, the Eternal High Priest A priest is ne wh ffers sacrifice t Gd n behalf f the peple. Ministerial priests ffer the greatest Sacrifice the Mass, which is the sacrifice f the Crss and f the Bdy and Bld f ur Lrd. Hwever, each f the faithful is called t share in the priesthd f Christ (distinct frm the ministerial priesthd). Hw d we d this? We unite ur whle lives prayer, wrk, family life, relatinships, struggles, temptatins t Christ and his sacrifice n the Crss. In a special way, we unite ur sufferings t Christ s suffering n the Crss. Jesus suffering brught abut ur salvatin. Therefre, when we unite ur suffering t his, ur suffering t brings abut the salvatin f suls. The mst pwerful mment f ffering is at the Mass. At the Mass, as the gifts are being placed n the altar, we t can place ur lives, ur duties, ur lved nes and suffering n the altar with the bread and wine. Just as the bread and wine becme transfrmed int smething infinitely greater, everything we ffer als becmes transfrmed int smething infinitely greater and mre fruitful. Jesus, the Wrd f Gd Made Flesh (Prphet) He, the Wrd, is the culminatin f all the prphets f the Old Testament, wh annunced the wrd f Gd. Jesus is the Wrd f Gd made flesh. In the Old Testament, Gd used his prphets t reveal things abut Himself t his peple. Jesus, wh is Gd Himself, fully and cmpletely reveals the Father t us. He is the greatest f all the prphets because He fully reveals Gd t us. We are called t shared in the prphetic missin f Christ by reveals Gd t the wrld thrugh ur lives, ur witness, ur wrds and ur actins. Jesus last cmmand t his Apstles was t g t all the natins and preach and teach them what I have taught yu. (cf. Matt 28:19) 8

9 V. LOVE AND RESPONSIBILITY A. The link between Lve and Respnsibility Lve divrced frm a feeling f respnsibility fr the ther is a negatin f itself; it is always egism. The greater the feeling f respnsibility the mre true lve there is. When lve is truly respnsible, it is als truly free. (St. Jhn Paul II, Lve and Respnsibility) True lve is respnsible. This is the mst simple and imprtant truth abut lve. In his bk Lve and Respnsibility, St. Jhn Paul II said that he believed the greatest fault f tday s humanity is the divrce between lve and respnsibility. In ther wrds, ut culture n lnger sees that yu cannt have authentic lve withut respnsibility. Lve, instead, is equated t feelings, emtins, pleasure, etc. Lve has becme smething selfish and self- seeking which is exactly the ppsite f lve. This is why Ppe Benedict XVI s first encyclical, Gd is Lve, was written. In the first paragraph, Ppe Benedict said that we need t reclaim the meaning f the wrd lve. Its meaning has becme disrdered, changed and lst. The mre we feel respnsible fr smene, the mre lve we have fr them. When we run away frm respnsibility and cmmitment t anther, this means we d nt have authentic lve fr them. Let s give sme examples t this. Lve fr my family makes me feel respnsible fr them: wrking t feed and supprt them; being n time t pick them up; teaching them abut the Lrd knwing yu have the duty t get yur children t heaven; making decisins fr their true gd rather than what is cnvenient r selfish. Nt lve nly lking t please myself, nt as cncerned abut their true happiness and well- being. Lve fr ne anther: feel respnsible t help thse wh are pr, needy, sick, destitute. Nt lve nt caring, indifferent t their plight, sufferings, etc. Selfishly using my pssessins and material wealth fr myself, instead f feeling respnsibly t use well the gifts I have been given. Lve in relatinships: I care abut the sul and gd f the ne I am with. I lk at them as an bject, nt as a persn. Nt lve I take what is nt mine t take (smene else s bdy) fr the sake f pleasure. Nt lve chabitatin. I want the pleasure and advantages f this type f relatinship, withut the respnsibility and cmmitment. Lving children I welcme children and take respnsibility fr them and their upbringing. Nt lve abrtin and cntraceptin. I want the pleasure f the sexual act withut the respnsibility and cmmitment f children. The fulfillment f duty and service then becmes the highest expressin f lve. When I say I will d smething and I d it this means I feel respnsible fr the persn I have cmmitted myself t. The cmmitment is fulfilled n matter what the cst. We lk at Jesus as the greatest example. He did the utmst pssible t fulfill the cmmitment he made in Genesis 3:15 fr ur salvatin. 9

10 Fulfilling his cmmitment cst him his life. Yet, He never said, This is t hard. I quit. Or, I dn t care anymre because they dn t even care that I am ding this. Lve that is nt willing t pay the price t remain faithful n matter what is nt lve. It is simply an emtin that cmes and ges, accrding t hw I feel. If we make decisins based n changing emtins, we will be the mst incnsistent and unreliable f peple. Lve means, I can rely n yu n matter what. In gd times and in bad. B. Lve, Respnsibility and Cnfirmatin In the Sacrament f cnfirmatin, a persn takes n a greater respnsibility in the Church. The persn s rle in the bdy is mre prnunced. The Church relies n them t take their place in the Church and take their place in histry. All peple must test themselves in regard t this new rle, this new missin they are being given. If I am stepping frward t receive the graces f this Sacrament, am I ding s in lve? D I lve Christ? D I lve the Church? If I am stepping frward t receive the aninting f Gd, the puring frth f his Spirit, d I realize that I am mre respnsible fr the state f the Church? Fr the lives f thse arund me? Am I playing my rle? Am I being a light? Am I bringing life and lve and light t thse in my life? Am I bringing Christ? Am I building a civilizatin f lve and life arund me? Or am I building a civilizatin f destructin and death? The receptin f the Sacraments. If we are serius abut ur respnsibility, we als must becme serius frequenters f the Sacraments (in particular the Eucharist and Cnfessin). A persn cannt expect t fulfill his missin in the Church withut the grace and strength frm the Sacraments. This is like ging int battle withut being fed. Eventually, we will cllapse frm exhaustin and starvatin. We will nt make it. The same is true spiritually. We cannt g int battle (and we are in a battle), withut the spiritual nurishment given t us in the Sacraments and in prayer. The sharing f my gifts Read the Parable f the Talents Matthew 25:14-30 Each persn has been given by Gd an assrtment f gifts: talents, virtues, material pssessins r wealth, etc. These gifts vary frm persn t persn. Each persn is a unique pssessr f gift and talents. Gd gives us these gifts fr the building up f his Kingdm and the salvatin f suls. It is as if he gives a builder an assrtment f tls fr free (mre than fr free He gave his life t be able t give us these tls). What des he expect the builder t d with them? Very simply, he expects the builder t use the tls t build beautiful huses. If the builder des nthing with them, then the gifts g t waste. Nt nly that, the builder will be held respnsible fr their waste. If the builder nly uses the tls t build a beautiful huse fr himself, he wuld be selfish, given the fact that many arund him are hmeless and sufferings and he has a great supply f material. Gd t expects us t use the gifts He has given us fr gd, t save suls, t bring many peple t Him and his Lve. If we d nt, we will be held accuntable fr them ne day. Malachi 3:8 What man wuld dare rb Gd? We might think we d nt. But dn t we all the time when take what is his and claim it as ur wn? 10