As I grew up I realised that no matter how great your skill is, you will always find someone better. 

1 Kings 14.21-31

Reference:  v.27  So King Rehoboam made bronze shields to replace them and assigned these to the commanders of the guard on duty at the entrance to the royal palace. (NIV Bible)

Explore:  I grew up with two very talented older sisters.  My eldest sister is a great actor while my second eldest sister is a fantastic singer.  I could do a little of both skills but not to the excellence of my older siblings.  As I grew up I realised that no matter how great your skill is, you will always find someone better.  That doesn't mean that you give up, it just provides you with some humility when performing your skill!

Application:  Rehoboam reigned for 17 years on the throne in Jerusalem but it seemed that he lived under the shadow of his father's reign.  While everything that Solomon touched seemed to turn to gold, Rehoboam did not hold the splendor of his father.  However, being a powerful king was not governed by gold or bronze being used for the temple shields, it was discerned by how each king responded to the Lord's commands.  While Solomon fell from grace at the end of his reign it seems that Rehoboam took the worship of other gods to a whole other level.  His focus was not in the right place.
When it comes to expressing our skills it does not matter whether we are the best, biggest or most beautiful, it is whether we are using our skills to glorify God.  Then our treasure, often made in Heaven rather than here on earth, will be made beautiful.  Because I can assure you that everything God touches turns to perfection.

Prayer:  Lord, thank you that you accept all our mediocre skills.  You have an amazing way of turning something ordinary into something extraordinary.  Amen.

God can use any simple skill we have to make something beautiful.  What are your skills?  How can you use them to honor God (try to think outside the church building)?