BEGIN TO SEE YOURSELF…. Using your gifts, talents and skills for service

EVERYTHING WE HAVE IS A GIFT FROM GOD

All good things are gifts given to us from our Creator (1 Timothy 6:17). Food and clothing (Matthew 6:25, 33), rain and fruitful harvests (Leviticus 26:4), faith (Ephesians 2:8), grace (James 4:6), wisdom (Proverbs 2:6; James 1:5), and life itself (Isaiah 42:5) are all gifts from God. He has supplied everything we need from the beginning of creation (Genesis 1:1-31).

GOD’S GIFTS ARE FOR USE IN HIS SERVICE

The gifts we have received are not ours alone. God gave them to us for the purpose of serving Him and serving other people. Each of us has something to give. We can give our money and our time to charity, we can give unselfishly of our time to our spouse, children, or parents, be a friend to someone who is sick or lonely, do volunteer work, or be a peacemaker, teacher, or minister, we can choose a service-oriented occupation, or we may just do our everyday jobs with integrity and respect for others.

The apostle Paul phrased it this way:

“We have different gifts, according to the grace given us. If a man’s gift is prophesying, let him use it in proportion to his faith. If it is serving, let him serve; if it is teaching, let him teach; if it is encouraging, let him encourage; if it is contributing to the needs of others, let him give generously; if it is leadership, let him govern diligently; if it is showing mercy, let him do it cheerfully (Romans 12:5-8, NIV).

In His parable of the talents, Jesus taught that we must use our gifts wisely. If we do not use our gifts wisely, God will consider us to be wicked and lazy.

It would seem that the more we give to others, the poorer we become, but just the opposite is true! Service to others brings meaning and fulfillment to our lives in a way that wealth, power, possessions, and self-centered pursuits can never match. As Jesus said, “Give and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, will be poured into your lap. For with the measure you use, it will be measured to you” (Luke 6:38).

So begin to see yourself utilizing all the gifts God has given you so that you can live a fulfilled life of service unto the Lord and mankind.

The essence of a FAITH PURPOSE DRIVEN LIFE is contained in obeying and worshiping God and helping others. God has given each of us important gifts for His purposes. Like the three men in Jesus’ parable, our gifts may be great or small. But no matter how great or small our talents, abilities, and wealth, we are required to put them to good use.