SKILLS

As we begin this month of August, let’s look at an interesting topic, skill.

WHAT IS SKILL?
According to Mariam Webster dictionary, skill is an ability to do an activity or job well, especially because you have practised it. Or a particular ability that you develop through training and experience and that is useful in a job.

According to Wikipedia, A skill is the learned ability to perform an action with determined results with good execution often within a given amount of time.

I define skill as the ability to perform a specific task aimed at achieving a specific goal. This mean that for every skill, there must be an end result.

CLASSIFICATION OF SKILLS
Generally, there are three broad categories of skills:
1) Technical or hard skills are teachable abilities or skill sets that are easy to quantify. Typically, you’ll learn hard skills in the classroom, through books or other training materials, or on the job.

2) Human or Soft skills are subjective skills that are much harder to quantify because they refer to the way you relate to and interact with other people. It is also known as people skills or interpersonal skills.

3) Conceptual skills are the abilities that allow an individual to better understand complex scenarios and develop creative solutions. This is often a mix of both technical and human skills.

IMPORTANCE OF SKILL
From time immemorial, skills have been considered important and very useful. In recent times, even with the great advancement in technology and robotics, skills are still essential. Some of its importance include:

– It provides jobs; among us here, I believe our skills have provided jobs for most of us. E.g Bakers, Mechanics, Doctors, Actors, Lawyers, Tailors, Shoe makers, Accountants, Bankers, Drivers etc In the Bible, it is seen in the case of David who became king (sherpard) of Israel because he was skilled in shepherding sheep. Psalms 78:70-72 He chose David his servant and took him from the sheep pens; from tending the sheep he brought him to be the shepherd of his people Jacob, of Israel his inheritance. And David shepherded them with integrity of heart; with skillful hands he led them. (NIV) and also in the case of Hiram and other workers who got hired by King Solomon to work in the temple construction. 1 Kings 7:14-15 He was a widow’s son from the tribe of Naphtali, and his father was a man of Tyre, a worker in bronze; and he was filled with wisdom and understanding and skill for doing any work in bronze. So he came to King Solomon and performed all his work. (NKJV) 2 Chronicles 2:7 Now therefore, send a man skilled to work in gold, silver, bronze, and iron, and in purple, crimson, and blue colors, who is a trained engraver, to work with the skilled men who are with me in Judah and Jerusalem, whom David my father provided. (AMP)

– It creates access to people of influence. The most common case being that of Osuolale Farouq who made an improved logo for Innoson motors and posted it on Twitter. This created access for him to the innoson group. The Bible acknowledges this in Proverbs 22:29 Do you see a man skillful in his work? He will stand before kings; he will not stand before obscure men. (ESV)

– It distinguishes you from others and also serves as a source of Income. We all possess different skills and this distinguishes each one of us. For example, two people here could be caterers but, each of them will cook and serve their meals in different ways. They also earn from this skill. In the Bible, Bezalel and Oholiab were not only skilled but also had the ability to teach others and were choosen specifically and endowed with skills by God. Exodus 35:30-35 Then Moses said to the Israelites, “See, the Lord has chosen Bezalel son of Uri, the son of Hur, of the tribe of Judah, and he has filled him with the Spirit of God, with wisdom, with understanding, with knowledge and with all kinds of skills— to make artistic designs for work in gold, silver and bronze, to cut and set stones, to work in wood and to engage in all kinds of artistic crafts. And he has given both him and Oholiab son of Ahisamak, of the tribe of Dan, the ability to teach others. He has filled them with skill to do all kinds of work as engravers, designers, embroiderers in blue, purple and scarlet yarn and fine linen, and weavers—all of them skilled workers and designers. (NIV)

– They are important in worship and daily living. Psalms 33:3 Sing new songs of praise to him; play skillfully on the harp and sing with joy. (NLT)
As Christians, we are encouraged by
Colossians 3:23-24 Work hard and cheerfully at whatever you do, as though you were working for the Lord rather than for people. Remember that the Lord will give you an inheritance as your reward, and the Master you are serving is Christ. (NLT) This makes us work with excellence in delivering our skills because we are doing so unto Christ.

Now, there’s one aspect that might seem off but, it shows us the extent to which skill is important and that is
– Destroying things or people. If you have ever encountered armed robbers or have been betrayed by someone, you’ll agree with me that it requires some kind of skill to be an armed robber or betrayer. The Bible records in Ezekiel 21:31 I will pour out my fury on you and blow on you with the fire of my anger. I will hand you over to cruel men who are skilled in destruction. (NIV) You’ll notice that this people who God used to punish the Ammonites were skilled in destruction.

In conclusion, everything we do is centered around skills of different kinds, hence from birth until when we die, we keep acquiring different skills. From the simplest skills of learning to eat, talk, walk, wash and other basic human functions to learning in a formal setting and acquiring certificates, to working and upskilling daily to keep up with our professions.

Life in it’s totally, is about skills.