Are you ready to discover who you are in the Kingdom of God?
What if I told you that God has given you unique talents and abilities to make a difference in this world and that He equipped you with everything you need to run the race before you?
We, as believers, can't rest on our blessed assurance and coast by in the Kingdom of God. The Lord has a mandate for all of our lives. He has placed things inside us that must be utilized for His purpose.
There is joy in knowing that God is working through you through His Holy Spirit, leading and guiding you in the direction He has for your life. As you serve with a heart of purpose and passion, you will face challenges and obstacles but overcome them through the strength of the Lord Jesus Christ!
This blog post isn't just a feel-good read. It's a call to action, an invitation to step out of your comfort zone and into God's incredible plan for your life. So buckle up; here we go!
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Discovering Your God-Given Talents
Romans 12:6–8 (NLT) — 6 In his grace, God has given us different gifts for doing certain things well. So if God has given you the ability to prophesy, speak out with as much faith as God has given you. 7 If your gift is serving others, serve them well. If you are a teacher, teach well. 8 If your gift is to encourage others, be encouraging. If it is giving, give generously. If God has given you leadership ability, take the responsibility seriously. And if you have a gift for showing kindness to others, do it gladly.
By God's grace, He has given us different talents and abilities for His Kingdom and for life in general. Some of these gifts are very obvious and evident in your life. Then, some will require exploring to uncover your hidden gifts and abilities.
As a believer in Christ, I owned a business for many years. My giftings and abilities came along with on-the-job training. Then, as I moved into the mission field, I saw God use all those years of development in my business to help me as a missionary. Today, I am still discovering things that God has placed in my life.
Here are a few questions to ask yourself:
What activities make you feel alive and energized?
What do people often compliment you on or ask for your help with?
What comes naturally to you that might be challenging for others?
What were some of your favorite activities or hobbies as a child?
If you could spend your days doing anything without worrying about money or other constraints, what would it be?
How have you seen God work through you to bless others?
Remember, your talents don't have to be super flashy or impressive to the world. Maybe you're a fantastic listener, patient with kids, or great at organizing things. These can be used to serve others and point them to Jesus!
Overcoming Fear and Excuses
Matthew 25:24–25 (NLT) — 24 “Then the servant with the one bag of silver came and said, ‘Master, I knew you were a harsh man, harvesting crops you didn’t plant and gathering crops you didn’t cultivate. 25 I was afraid I would lose your money, so I hid it in the earth. Look, here is your money back.’
Many of us know the Parable of the Talents. The master gave three servants talents or silver, depending on which translation you read. Two of them invested it, and the other one hid the one talent that he received. He gave excuses as to why he did nothing with the talent he received. The master was furious. He called him a wicked, lazy servant and cast him into outer darkness.
This parable should concern us on many levels. Jesus opened the parable with this statement: "For the Kingdom of Heaven is as a man." He is saying that we all have been given talents to invest in the Kingdom of God. This is confirmed throughout the Bible in various forms. We are expected to fulfill God's mandate on our lives.
It may be scary to step out in faith to do something you believe God has told you to do. Also, it's easier to give excuses than to put forth the effort needed to move forward in God's plans, like "I don't have time" or "Someone else can do it better." God isn't interested in our fear or reasons why we can't. He has supplied us with everything we need to do whatever He has asked us to do.
Moses is an excellent example of this. When God called him to lead the Israelites out of slavery, Moses came up with all kinds of excuses. "I'm not a good speaker," he said. "Please send someone else to do it." (Exodus 4:10,13 NLT) But God didn't let him off the hook. He promised to help Moses and give him the words to say. And through Moses' obedience (even though he was shaking in his sandals), God did incredible miracles!
If you find yourself in this position, don't be embarrassed or ashamed. We all have encountered the same feelings and wanted to give excuses. Remember this verse, "This is my command—be strong and courageous! Do not be afraid or discouraged. For the LORD your God is with you wherever you go." You + God = VICTORY!
Serving with the Right Attitude
Philippians 2:5 (NLT) — 5 You must have the same attitude that Christ Jesus had.
I believe that attitude is enormous regarding the Kingdom of God. The Bible clearly says we need to have the attitude of Christ Jesus! He was one of complete selflessness, servanthood, and sacrifice that put the needs of others before Himself. We need to renew our thoughts and attitudes through the Holy Spirit continuously. Forever, always, walking in our new nature through Christ. (Ephesians 4:23-24)
There are countless attitudes that we could examine, but to name a few:
Pride
Unbelief
Bitterness
Unforgiveness
Laziness
Apathy
Worldliness
Jealousy
Complaining
Selfishness
Rebellion
The Bible says, "Serve the Lord with gladness" (Psalm 100:2 KJV) and "Work willingly at whatever you do, as though you were working for the Lord rather than for people." (Colossians 3:23 NLT) If you start with the correct position and dial your spiritual eternal compass in the proper direction, you will step off with the right foot. Along the way, it will require periodic adjustments as long as we stay true to the Word of God in our lives. We should continually be operating from the point of serving with gladness and remembering that we are not doing it for others or ourselves, but we are working for the Lord.
Colossians 3:12–13 (NLT) — 12 Since God chose you to be the holy people he loves, you must clothe yourselves with tenderhearted mercy, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience. 13 Make allowance for each other's faults, and forgive anyone who offends you. Remember, the Lord forgave you, so you must forgive others.
We must exemplify Christ in our daily lives. By doing so, we are placing ourselves in a position for God to use us in the talents and giftings that God has bestowed upon us through His grace! (Romans 12:6-8). Colossians lays out attitudes that we must clothe ourselves with:
Tenderhearted mercy
Kindness
Humility
Gentleness
Patience
Allowance for other's faults
Forgiving
Keep Running the Race
1 Corinthians 9:24 (NLT) — 24 Don’t you realize that in a race everyone runs, but only one person gets the prize? So run to win!
We are all running our races in the Lord but should collectively come together to advance God's Kingdom for His glory! Apostle Paul is speaking of a worldly race in which the winner will win a wreath and accolades that will only disappear and be long forgotten, but how many of us know that if we endure to the end, we will all win a prize in Christ Jesus that will last for all eternity.
As it says in Hebrews 12:1b-2, "Let us strip off every weight that slows us down, especially the sin that so easily trips us up. And let us run with endurance the race God has set before us."
When we use our gifts for the Kingdom of God, it is a lifelong journey. There will be bumps in the road along the way! We will make mistakes, obstacles will be in our way, and hard times will come. What matters is that we have to keep pushing forward through the strength of God. We have to stay in prayer and seek the Lord's face. We can't allow ourselves to give up along the journey. Keep your eyes fixed and focused on Jesus!
Running our race in Christ requires our faithfulness. We are not going to get it right all the time. I can't even begin to express how many times I have failed to fulfill God's plan and purpose for me. But I can say this: I have never quit. By not quitting, I am allowing the Lord to work through me day by day.
Encouraging Each Other in the Local Church
Matthew 16:18 (NLT) — 18 Now I say to you that you are Peter (which means ‘rock’), and upon this rock I will build my church, and all the powers of hell will not conquer it.
Colossians 1:18a (NLT) — 18 Christ is also the head of the church, which is his body.
There is no doubt that Jesus established the church, and we are the body of Christ. The Bible commands us to gather together and encourage one another, especially when His (Jesus') return is near. (Hebrews 10:25)
God has given us a beautiful gift: a local church. It is where we find our spiritual family, a God-given pastor, a place to be mentored and discipled, and we can use our talents and abilities by serving.
1 Thessalonians 5:11 (NLT) — 11 So encourage each other and build each other up, just as you are already doing.
No one is an island in of themselves. We all need people in our lives. It doesn't matter how extroverted you are; you need people. I can be alone for a week without thinking about it. I can sit in my office for hours, writing and studying. Also, my wife and I are best friends; we do everything together. It is really easy to be with just her. But I think there is more to life than that. We all need to be encouraged by the Body of Christ!
There are many reasons why the Lord established the church, but one of them is to encourage each other to continue running our races. Also, it is a place where our talents and gifts can be used. As we do, we will ALL TOGETHER advance the Kingdom of God forward.
Bringing it Together
As we discover and put to use the unique talents and abilities God has given each of us, let's keep our eyes fixed on Jesus and run the race He has set before us with endurance. It won't always be easy, but we can overcome any obstacle with the right attitude of humility and service, relying on God's strength, and encouraging one another in the local church.
Remember, this isn't about us or our glory - it's about using what God has placed inside us to make an eternal impact on His Kingdom. As we step out in faith and obedience, even when we feel inadequate or afraid, He will equip us and work through us in powerful ways.
So let's not hide our talents or make excuses, but invest them wisely, knowing we will one day give an account to our Master. Let's encourage each other in love and good deeds, and together, as the Body of Christ, light up the world with His truth and grace.
The best is yet to come as we fulfill the incredible plans and purposes God has for us!
Scriptures on Serving and Using Your Talents
1 Peter 4:10-11
Ephesians 4:11-12
1 Corinthians 12:7
Matthew 25:14-30
Colossians 3:23-24
Romans 12:4-5
Hebrews 10:24-25
Frequently Asked Questions
How do you use your talents to help others?
God has given each of us special abilities and talents. The Bible says in Romans 12:6, "In his grace, God has given us different gifts for doing certain things well." (NLT)
These talents aren't just for our own benefit, but God wants us to use them to serve others. 1 Peter 4:10 tells us, "God has given each of you a gift from his great variety of spiritual gifts. Use them well to serve one another." (NLT) It doesn't matter if your talent is singing, drawing, being a good friend, or helping with homework - every ability can be used to show God's love.
It might feel scary to put yourself out there and use your talents sometimes. But remember, God is with you and will give you the courage and strength you need! Ephesians 2:10 says, "For we are God's masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things he planned for us long ago." (NLT)
So don't hide your talents or be afraid to use them. Look for ways to help and encourage the people around you with the abilities God has given you. You never know the amazing impact you could have on someone's life! Let's all work together to make a difference for God.
All we have to do is recognize the gifts and talents, then get started!
How can I develop and strengthen my God-given gifts?
When we discover the special abilities and talents God has given us, it's exciting! But it's not enough to just know what they are - we need to practice and grow in them too. It's kind of like a muscle, the more we use our gifts, the stronger they get!
One of the best ways to develop your talents is by stepping out in faith and using them. Hebrews 5:14 says, "Solid food is for those who are mature, who through training have the skill to recognize the difference between right and wrong." (NLT) The more you put your gifts into practice, the better you'll get at using them wisely.
Another key to growing in your abilities is staying connected to God. Colossians 2:6-7 reminds us, "And now, just as you accepted Christ Jesus as your Lord, you must continue to follow him. Let your roots grow down into him, and let your lives be built on him. Then your faith will grow strong in the truth you were taught, and you will overflow with thankfulness." (NLT) When we stay close to Jesus through prayer and reading the Bible, He helps us understand how to use our gifts in ways that honor Him.
Don't forget, you're not in this alone! God has given us the church, a community of believers to encourage and sharpen one another. Proverbs 27:17 says, "As iron sharpens iron, so a friend sharpens a friend." (NLT) Surround yourself with people who will build you up, pray for you, and help you grow in your gifting. Together, we can do amazing things for God's Kingdom!
How can I ensure that I'm using my talents with the right motives and attitude?
Look no further than the Word of God! In Matthew 6:33, it says, "Seek the Kingdom of God above all else and live righteously, and he will give you everything you need." (NLT) This means that when we prioritize God and His will, our talents will be used for His glory.
Another important verse to remember is 1 Corinthians 10:31, which states, "So whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God." (NLT) This reminds us that no matter what task or talent we have, we should do it with the intention of honoring God and not seeking our own recognition or praise.
Proverbs 16:3 also guides us in using our talents with the right motives and attitude, saying, "Commit your actions to the LORD, and your plans will succeed." When we surrender our talents to God and allow Him to guide us, our efforts will align with His purposes and lead to true success.
Lastly, Ephesians 2:10 reminds us that "For we are God’s masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things he planned for us long ago." Knowing that we are uniquely created by God and designed to do good works should inspire us to use our talents with humility, gratitude, and a desire to serve others.
Shawn Paul is an author and missionary who has been living and working in Central America for the past 10 years. He is passionate about living for Jesus Christ and inspiring others to do the same, which is the focus of his blog, where he shares his expertise in Christianity.
In addition to his missionary work, Shawn enjoys reading books, studying God's Word, growing plants and flowers, feeding birds, and keeping up with the latest technology.
As a writer, Shawn's unique perspective and passion for his faith shine through in his work. Shawn's goal for the future is to impact people around the world for Jesus through his writing and missionary work.