Making Much of Your Gifts

Make Much of What God has Placed in You

We so often either work hard to be seen and noticed, or we diminish ourselves through comparison and insecurity.  I have been guilty of both extremes over the course of my life.  If I am working in the dark and behind the scenes in a way that is not noticed, is my work still worth it? 

The Bible says our work is even more valuable when we do it in secret where the eyes of people would never notice.  If the reward we seek is the praise of people, then that is the only reward we will ever receive (Matthew 6:1-2).  But if we work to please the Father alone, forsaking all others, then our reward will be great, heavenly, and eternal (Matthew 6:1-6). 

This means giving our gifts, or doing our good works, in secret and never letting anyone know.  It means praying hard for people and never telling them about it.  It means loving “the least of these” even if it will negatively affect our reputation (Matthew 25:40).  It means following the Lord’s direction, even if no one else agrees (Exodus 23:2). 

The Bible goes on to say that if we are faithful in the small, private, hidden things… that is to say, if we will live with excellence and integrity, even when no one is looking… then He will make us ruler over much (Luke 16:10, Matthew 25:23).

Who Am I? 

Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others, as faithful stewards of God’s grace in its various forms.

1 Peter 4:10

We make ourselves small when we do not honor who God created us to be through Christ Jesus.  It’s not about who we are as human beings, it’s about who Christ is in us and through us.

If I decide who I am based on my God-given talents, or the things I love to do, then I am… 

• An artist
• A writer
• A gardener
• One who loves people
• A counselor
• A mediator
• An encourager
• A traveler
• A hard worker 

What’s on your list?  

Maybe you’re a talented organizer with a penchant for noticing the tiniest of details.  That’s an administrative gift, which can be widely used in a variety of ways to serve God and others. 

Maybe you’re a simple cook or baker, or maybe you’re a chef with a culinary flair for the dramatic!  What is something you can easily do to use your gifts with food to serve the people around you as an offering to the Lord? 

Maybe your gifts are simple and understated, or maybe you don’t know where to start.  That is the perfect opportunity to ask the Lord what you can do to help.  Can you sit with a friend in their grief?  Can you pray a simple prayer for those around you who are sick or in need?  Can you write a small note, or buy a small bundle of flowers for someone you know who needs encouragement?  

Do not despise the day of small beginnings, my friend.  The Lord rejoices to see the work begin! (Zechariah 4:10).  Simply doing what you know you CAN do is a great place to start!

Are you able to make a list of good qualities about yourself?  

I could not have made my list ten years ago.  I didn’t think enough of myself to really believe I had good qualities.  I would discount every area because of imperfection, insecurity, or negative comparisons.  

Let’s start there.  If you can’t make a list, why not?  Do you have the foundation of a “daughter” or an “orphan,” when it comes to your relationship with God?  I will write about this in my next post.

If you are able to make a list, are you doing the things on your list?  Why, or why not?  

We Make Ourselves Small

When we let our stresses, seeming lack of time or opportunity, insecurities, or the results of our negative comparisons with others, keep us from doing what we KNOW we were created to do, we make ourselves small… and we were not created to be small. 

We were created to do BIG things in the eyes of God.  

Though at times our accomplishments may seem SMALL in the eyes of people, or even our own eyes, we will never know their true effect until we get to heaven. One small word of encouragement, obediently given in God’s timing and by the power of His Spirit, can change the course of an entire generation (Psalm 145:4-7). 

God will always see more in us than we see in ourselves because He sees the outcome of our obedience before we even get started.  

If you don’t have time to use your gifts, make time.  You might not be able to do that thing this week, but you can schedule it on your first free day.  But don’t just schedule it and then let it slide.  Schedule it and do it.  It might be difficult at first, but you will not regret it!

You Were Created for Joy

You were created to have an abundant life (John 10:10), and to live it with JOY (1 Thessalonians 5:16-18).  If that’s not your life right now, start asking yourself why.  Maybe your foundation needs healing and resetting like mine did. Maybe your focus is on the wrong things, which happens to us all from time to time.  

Maybe we thought things would work out a certain way, or in a certain amount of time, but it didn’t… or it hasn’t yet.  We can’t let frustration or disappointment undermine our relationship with God, or what He has created us to do.  The only things that are really important in this life are continuing to abide in Him (John 15:4), and obediently following His loving instruction (John 14:15).

Seek to please God alone, forsaking all others… even forsaking our own preconceived notions.  

You matter.  You have value.  You have a purpose that was set aside specifically for you.  Start asking God what that is.  Seek wise counsel in this area from trusted people who have gone before you.  Trust me, it’s there… and once you finally see it, you’ll realize it was there all along.

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