The Gift Of A Man In The Pursuit Of Excellence (part 1)

By
Pastor (Engr.) Isaac A. Samuel
Isaacsamuel2003@yahoo.com

The gift of a man in the pursuit of excellence can not be overemphasised. As it is

impossible to get a finished and well parkaged product without the raw materials, so also
nobody can attain excellence in life without a gift.

Therefore, Gift can be defined as natural endowment (faculty; Talents; and some quality)
bestowed on us by God. While excellence is the state of possessing good qualities in an
unusual or eminent degree; the state of excelling in any thing.

1Co 7:7 “---But every man hath his proper gift of God, one after this manner, and another
after that.”

Every man is gifted with a unique gift that is proper for him in the sight of God. The gift of
God, both in nature and grace are variously distributed therefore no room for envy and
copying each other. This gifts are given for profitability and to bless humanity.

No man should say “I am not gifted”. For God gave them talents according to their several
ability-according to their capacity. Therefore, it becomes very important that we discover
our area of giftings or we live an insignificant life in this world. If you can identify your
area of passion, the things you do without struggle, the things that attract your attention or
concern, the thing you do with natural joy flowing from your within, then you have found
your area of giftings. Only if you can look inward you will discover your area of giftings.
And if properly developed, it will lead to excellence in life.

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Pro 18:16 “A man's gift maketh room for him and bringeth him before great men.”

In other words, the gift of a man enlarges him; brings him out of prison, out of the crowd,
and also makes way for him to prominence in the community. It opens a way for him into
the presence and company of great men. In Genesis 39,40 and 41, it was discovered that
Joseph was endowed with the gift of interpretation of dreams. He interpreted the dreams of
the chief butler and the chief baker, Pharaoh's servants.

Gen 40:20-23 “And it came to pass the third day, which was Pharaoh's birthday, that he
made a feast unto all his servants: and he lifted up the head of the chief butler and of the
chief baker among his servants. And he restored the chief butler unto his butlership again;
and he gave the cup into Pharaoh's hand: But he hanged the chief baker: as Joseph had
interpreted to them. Yet did not the chief butler remember Joseph, but forgat him.”

In the process of time, Pharaoh had a dream, and there was none that could interpret the
dream, then the chief butler who had forgotten about Joseph, remembered him, not for
anything but for the gift.

Gen 41:14-15 “Then Pharaoh sent and called Joseph, and they brought him hastily out of
the dungeon: and he shaved himself, and changed his raiment, and came in unto Pharaoh.
And Pharaoh said unto Joseph, I have dreamed a dream, and there is none that can interpret
it: and I have heard say of thee, that thou canst understand a dream to interpret it.”

Joseph was invited to the palace, the gift brought him out of prison, make him stand before
the king. He interpreted the king’s dream and proffer solution.

Gen 41:37-44 “And the thing was good in the eyes of Pharaoh, and in the eyes of all his
servants. And Pharaoh said unto his servants, Can we find such a one as this is, a man in

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whom the Spirit of God is? And Pharaoh said unto Joseph, Forasmuch as God hath shewed
thee all this, there is none so discreet and wise as thou art: Thou shalt be over my house,
and according unto thy word shall all my people be ruled: only in the throne will I be
greater than thou. And Pharaoh said unto Joseph, See, I have set thee over all the land of
Egypt. And Pharaoh took off his ring from his hand, and put it upon Joseph's hand, and
arrayed him in vestures of fine linen, and put a gold chain about his neck; And he made him
to ride in the second chariot which he had; and they cried before him, Bow the knee: and he
made him ruler over all the land of Egypt. And Pharaoh said unto Joseph, I am Pharaoh, and
without thee shall no man lift up his hand or foot in all the land of Egypt.”

The response of Pharaoh was quite suprising, he said to Joseph, “I am Pharaoh, and without
thee shall no man lift up his hand or foot in all the land of Egypt.” Pharaoh made Joseph the
prime minister of Egypt. His God given gift made room for him and the entire race of Israel
were preserved during the period of the famine. What a fulfilling and excellent life via Gift!

In Daniel 2, Daniel told the King his dream and interpreted it to him. The king could not
help but worship Daniel at the display of his God given gift. By this singular act he
delievered the wisemen of babylon from death sentence passed on them by the king for not
been able to tell him the dream and its interpretation.

Dan 2:46-49 “Then the king Nebuchadnezzar fell upon his face, and worshipped Daniel,
and commanded that they should offer an oblation and sweet odours unto him. The king
answered unto Daniel, and said, Of a truth it is, that your God is a God of gods, and a Lord
of kings, and a revealer of secrets, seeing thou couldest reveal this secret. Then the king
made Daniel a great man, and gave him many great gifts, and made him ruler over the
whole province of Babylon, and chief of the governors over all the wise men of Babylon.”

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The king, in his response to the interpretation, made Daniel a great man, and gave him
many great gifts, and promoted him by making him ruler over the whole province of
Babylon, and chief of the governors over all the wise men of Babylon.The gift made room
for him.

David was endowed with the gift of playing instrument of strings and he played it so skillful
that he was brought into the palace to play so that king saul could be relieved from the
demons tormemting him anytime he plays. David had the gift of braveness and faith that
made him go after little lion and bear to deliever his sheep from their mouth. This same gift
made him to dare Golliath and brought him down. David is a man after God’s heart, a king,
priest and a prophet through whom Jesus came.

As earlier mentioned, gifts are raw materials that guarantee excellence in life. Therefore, as
a raw material needs processing to get a product, so also gifts needs processing.

Jer 29:11 “For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the LORD, thoughts of
peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end.”

The expected end God have in view for his children is a glorious and fufilling destination.
Therefore, a gap exist between gift and excellence in life. Within this gap you are expected
to develop capacity that is meant for excellence.