But you trusted in your beauty and used your fame to become a prostitute. You lavished your favors on anyone who passed by and your beauty became his.
Ezekiel 16:15
In this allegory in Ezekiel, God compares Israel with a bride whom he lavishes his gifts and blessings upon.
One of the more profound things that is mentioned in this passage is that because he describes this relationship in a context of a loving relationship, the gifts that he lavishes on her are for…him.
I think when put into perspective with our spiritual gifts, talents, etc, it definitely provokes me to conviction.
How often do we use the gifts, talents, and skills that God has given us for others selfishly? We use them to be like-able, to win friends, to earn man’s favor and pleasure, to secure jobs, etc..
While those things in themselves may not be all that bad, this passage highlights that God actually condemned Israel for flaunting her gifts and her blessings in order to entice her neighbors. By her talents and gifts she became a prostitute.
She became a prostitute because the talents and gifts that God lavished on her were for her to be affectionate with God. Let me explain: it’s as if a man gave a women a beautiful necklace, but she in return went off and used it to win the favor of others. His original intent is so that he himself could marvel at her wearing it, and funnel that experience into being intimate with her.
So it is with the gifts God gives us–they’re not meant to be primarily flaunted to others, they were meant to be used for loving Jesus intimately.
The gifts and talents that has given us are the beautiful necklaces a bridegroom gives to his bride, and so we turn towards Him in love and let him lavish us with it on. That’s what I think gifts and talents are for.
