Gifts

No, I’m not prepping for Christmas…yet. Yes, I have a countdown on my phone already. 🙂 I’m talking about God given gifts. “As each has received a gift, use it to serve one another, as good stewards of God’s varied grace: whoever speaks, as one who speaks oracles of God; whoever serves, as one who serves by the strength that God supplies – in order that in everything God may be glorified through Jesus Christ. To him belong glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen.” 1 Peter 4:10-11.

I’ve started noticing a trend. I’ve recently started asking people about their gifts and strengths. The more I’ve asked this question, the more I’ve gotten shrugged shoulders or blank stares. This got me thinking. Why is this such a hard question to answer? I think I’ve come up with two possible reasons. 

1. We don’t want to be considered a bragger, boastful, or prideful. “When pride comes, then comes disgrace, but with the humble is wisdom.” Proverbs 11:2.

Or

2. We genuinely don’t know what gifts or strengths He has give us. “For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.” Ephesians 2:10.

I believe that God has gifted all of us in special and unique ways. “…and I have filled him with the Spirit of God, with ability and intelligence, with knowledge and all craftsmanship.” Exodus 31:3. I also believe that He calls us to use these gifts for His glory. “Let every skillful craftsman among you come and make all that the Lord has commanded.” Exodus 35:10. 

So if God has given us gifts then we must use them. “And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.” Colossians 3:17.

I believe that Romans 12:3-8 beautifully summarizes God’s perspective on gifts. “For by the grace given to me I say to everyone among you not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think, but to think with sober judgment, each according to the measure of faith that God has assigned. For as in one body we have many members, and the members do not all have the same function, so we, though many are one body in Christ, and individually members one of another. Having gifts that differ according to the grace given to us, let us use them: if prophecy, in proportion to our faith; if service, in our serving; the one who teaches, in his teaching; the one who exhorts, in his exhortation; the one who contributes, in generosity; the one who leads, with zeal; the one who does acts of mercy, with cheerfulness.”

I believe we can bring God great joy and honor by using the gifts He has given us. If you genuinely don’t know what your gifts are, I encourage you to seek Him and ask Him to reveal them to you, that you might start using them. If you do know your gifts, don’t be afraid to give Him the glory. The next time someone asks what your gifts are, humbly and thankfully share all that He has blessed you with and enjoy using them for His glory!