The Divine Economy of Skill: Text: Proverbs 18:16
Introduction: Merit, Envy, and the Great Leveling
We live in an age that is profoundly confused about excellence. On the one hand, our culture is obsessed with celebrity, fawning over the famous and lavishing attention on those who have reached the pinnacle of their field, whether that field is sports, entertainment, or technology. But on the other hand, and this is the more corrosive sentiment, we are possessed by a spirit of resentful egalitarianism. This is the spirit of envy, which cannot stand to see another man rise by his own diligence and God-given talent. It is the spirit that cries "privilege" at every turn and seeks to level all distinctions, not by lifting the lowly, but by tearing down the successful.
This creates a bizarre cultural schizophrenia. We want the fruits of excellence, the life-saving surgeon, the masterful carpenter, the brilliant musician, but we despise the very conditions that create such men. We want the results of merit, but we have declared war on the concept of merit itself. We want to live in a world built by gifted men, but we want to deny that some men are, in fact, more gifted than others, or that they have a right to the influence their gifts bring them.
Into this muddle of contradiction and envy, the book of Proverbs speaks with the clear, crisp logic of a world that was actually created by God. The proverbs are not a collection of quaint spiritual suggestions; they are descriptions of how the machinery of the world actually works. They are the manufacturer's instructions for reality. And when we come to our text today, we are given a foundational principle of God's economy. It is a principle that explains how societies are built, how influence is gained, and how God providentially orders the world through the diverse abilities He sovereignly bestows upon men.
This verse is a foundational plank in a biblical worldview of culture. It teaches us that God has designed the world in such a way that competence matters. Skill matters. Diligence matters. And these things have a natural and right tendency to bring a man into a position of greater responsibility and influence. This is not a bug in the system; it is the system. And our task is to understand it, embrace it, and live according to it, for our own good and for the glory of God.
The Text
A man’s gift makes room for him And leads him into the presence of great men.
(Proverbs 18:16 LSB)
The Gift That Makes Room
Let us first consider the first clause:
"A man’s gift makes room for him..." (Proverbs 18:16a)
Now, the word for "gift" here (mattan) can certainly mean a present or a bribe. And in a fallen world, we are not naive. We know that a well-placed bribe can indeed open doors that should have remained shut. Proverbs speaks of this elsewhere, and not with approval. But the primary meaning here is far broader and more foundational. The "gift" is the endowment, the talent, the skill, the particular grace that God has given to a man. This could be a skill in craftsmanship, like Bezalel and Oholiab. It could be a gift for administration, like Joseph. It could be wisdom in counsel, like Ahithophel, or courage in battle, like David.
The proverb tells us that such a gift "makes room" for the man who possesses it. This is a wonderfully architectural phrase. It means it expands his sphere of action. It carves out a place for him. Imagine a crowded room where everyone is standing shoulder to shoulder. A man with a genuine, cultivated gift does not have to elbow his way to the front. His gift, when exercised, creates a space around him. People naturally make way. They step back to watch the master craftsman at work. They fall silent to hear the wise man speak. They clear a path for the effective leader.
This is a description of how God has structured reality. Competence creates its own authority. This is a direct affront to our modern world of empty credentials, affirmative action, and DEI initiatives, which are all attempts to grant authority and position based on factors other than genuine giftedness. The world is groaning under the weight of leaders, managers, and "experts" who have no gift for the positions they occupy. The result is collapsing bridges, incoherent policies, and a society that is becoming, quite literally, less competent. God's way is different. In His economy, your gift is your credential. Your ability to do the job is what qualifies you for the job.
This making of room is not automatic, of course. The gift must be cultivated. It must be honed through diligence, discipline, and hard work. A man may have a gift for woodworking, but if he leaves his tools to rust and never learns the trade, his gift will make no room for him at all. He will remain in his father's basement. As Proverbs says elsewhere, "Do you see a man skilled in his work? He will stand before kings; He will not stand before obscure men" (Proverbs 22:29). The skill, the diligent application of the gift, is what clears the space.
The Path to Great Men
The second clause shows us where this room-making leads.
"And leads him into the presence of great men." (Proverbs 18:16b)
This is the natural progression. As a man's gift makes room for him, it enlarges his territory and increases his reputation. This, in turn, brings him to the attention of those with even larger territories and greater responsibilities. "Great men" here refers to leaders, rulers, and men of significant influence. The principle is simple: talent flows uphill. Responsibility seeks out ability.
When Pharaoh had a problem that none of his credentialed magicians could solve, he didn't form a committee. He asked, "Can we find a man like this, in whom is a divine spirit?" (Genesis 41:38). And Joseph, because of his God-given gift of interpretation, was brought out of the dungeon and into the presence of the greatest man in the empire. When King Saul was tormented, he didn't send for a therapist; he asked for a man who could play the harp well. And David, the skilled musician, was brought into the king's court. His gift made room for him.
This is God's ordained structure for a healthy society. God raises up men with particular gifts, and He arranges circumstances so that those gifts are brought into the places where they are most needed. The man who can solve the problem is brought to the man who has the problem. The man who has wisdom is brought to the man who needs counsel. The man who can build is brought to the man who needs something built. This is how godly order is established and how culture is built. It is a divine meritocracy, where gifts are recognized and put to their highest and best use.
This is not a promise of worldly fame or fortune for every believer. The "great men" are not always kings and presidents. For a gifted teacher, the "great men" she is brought before might be the elders of her church who recognize her gift and ask her to oversee the children's ministry. For a skilled mechanic, it might be the owner of a large company who needs a man he can trust to manage his entire fleet of vehicles. The principle is about moving into spheres of greater responsibility and consequence, according to the measure of the gift God has given.
The Ultimate Gift, The Ultimate Presence
Like every other proverb, this piece of practical wisdom is a pointer to a far deeper reality in Christ. It is a small reflection of a great gospel truth. For if any man's gift made room for him, it was the Lord Jesus Christ.
What was His gift? His gift was perfect righteousness. His gift was His own life, a spotless sacrifice. He was the most competent man who ever lived, perfectly skilled in obedience. And His gift made room for Him. It made room for Him at the right hand of the Majesty on High. It cleared a space for Him, giving Him the name that is above every name. "For this reason also, God highly exalted Him, and bestowed on Him the name which is above every name" (Philippians 2:9).
And where did it lead Him? It led Him into the presence of the greatest of all. It led Him into the immediate presence of God the Father. He now stands before the ultimate great man, the Ancient of Days, as our representative and high priest.
But the gospel parallel does not stop there. The proverb says a man's gift makes room for him. But the gospel shows us something even more glorious. Christ's gift makes room for us. His perfect life and substitutionary death did not just make room for Himself; it was an act of cosmic room-making for all who are found in Him. He has cleared a space for us, a standing in grace where we now stand (Romans 5:2). He has made a way for us to be brought into the presence of the great King.
We had no gift that could accomplish this. Our "gift" was sin, and its wages were death. We could not make room for ourselves; we had been cast out. But Christ came, and by the gift of Himself, He leads us, His people, into the very throne room of the universe, into the presence of the great God, not as condemned criminals, but as beloved children.
Conclusion: Find Your Gift and Work It
So what is the practical takeaway for us? It is twofold. First, you must recognize that if you are a Christian, God has given you a gift. He has not left you empty-handed. As Peter says, "As each one has received a special gift, employ it in serving one another as good stewards of the manifold grace of God" (1 Peter 4:10). Your first task is to identify your gift. What has God made you good at? What are your natural abilities, your spiritual endowments? This is not a matter of navel-gazing, but of faithful observation and the counsel of the saints.
Second, once you know your gift, you are to work it. You are to cultivate it with all diligence. Be the best plumber, or pastor, or mother, or accountant you can be, for the glory of God. Hone your craft. Read the books. Practice the scales. Put in the hours. Do not despise your gift, no matter how humble it may seem. A man who can skillfully lay bricks is more useful in God's kingdom than a man who sits around dreaming of being a theologian but never reads his Bible.
As you do this, as you faithfully steward the gift God has given you, trust the truth of this proverb. Trust that God's world works in the way He says it does. Your gift will make room for you. God will providentially open doors. He will expand your influence in His perfect timing and in His perfect way. He will bring you into whatever "presence" He has ordained for you, for the good of His people and the advancement of His kingdom. So do not be consumed with envy for another man's gift or another man's room. Find your place, take up your tools, and get to work.