“For we are God’s fellow workers; you are God’s field, God’s building.”

~1 Corinthians 3:9 (NIV)

The Carpenter’s Tools

Author Unknown, Source Unknown
Brother Hammer served as the chairman. The other members of the tool belt informed him that he must leave, because he was too noisy. But brother Hammer said, “If I have to leave this carpenter’s shop, then brother Gimlet must go too. He’s insignificant and makes a very small impression.” (A gimlet is a small tool with a screw point, grooved shank, and a cross handle for boring holes).

Little brother Gimlet arose and said, “Alright, but brother Screwdriver must go also. You have to turn him around and around to get anywhere with him.”

Brother Screwdriver turned to the other tools in the belt and said, “If you wish, I will go, but brother Plane must leave too. All of his work is on the surface; there’s no depth to what he does.”

To this brother Plane leveled his terse reply, “Well, then, brother Saw will have to depart too. The changes he proposes always cut too deep.”

Brother Saw complained, saying, “Brother Ruler will have to withdraw if I leave, for he’s always measuring other folks as though he were the only one who is right.”

Brother Ruler then surveyed the group and said, “Brother Sandpaper doesn’t belong here either. He’s rougher than he ought to be, and is always rubbing people the wrong way.”

In the midst of the discussion, the Carpenter of Nazareth walked in. He had come to perform his day’s work. He put on His tool belt and went to the workbench to make a pulpit. He employed the ruler, the saw, the plane, the hammer, the gimlet, the screwdriver, the sandpaper, and all the other tools. When the day’s work was over, the pulpit was finished, and the carpenter went home. All the accusations against each of these tools were absolutely true, yet the carpenter used every one of them. No matter which tool He used, no other tool could have done the work better.

THOUGHT: We are all “tools”" in Jesus’ tool box. Each of us has a purpose, ability, and a task to perform.

Each one of us serves a purpose in God.  Just like one tool is not better than another tool, so also one Christian does not serve a greater purpose than another.  We should not compare ourselves to others.  The only One we should compare ourselves to is God our Father.  He alone can show us what we should become and teach us what our purpose is in Him.  Our abilities become significant when used within His power and guided by His love.

Dear Father God, Thank You for appreciating all the abilities of each of Your children.  You certainly enhance my gifts and abilities by teaching me who I am through Your Word.  I’m so glad You need each of the tools in Your tool belt.