Gifts, Talents and Abilities

God has given all of us special talents, gifts and abilities. Some of these were given to us at birth and others have been given to us at our birth in Jesus Christ. These gifts and abilities were given to us for one reason and that was for worshipping God, edifying the church and each other, not for personal profit, gain or fame.

Imagine if you will a house that was to be built. The contractor started assigning jobs based on his relationship to a person, their looks, their wealth and personality, but not according to their abilities and skills. He had the carpenters doing the electrical work, the plumbers doing the carpet and electricians doing the painting and so on. There is no telling what this house would look like when and if they got finished.

It’s sad to say this very thing occurs often in businesses and churches. You have people who can’t teach teaching, people who can’t sing singing, people that can teach attempting to play and instrument and those who are musicians teaching. It’s usually based on the circumstances listed above. Naturally all this leads to chaos.

This is not God’s plan. He gave each of us talents, skills and abilities for His purpose. Many people have taken these God given gifts and sold them to Satan by using them to glorify themselves, self indulgence and fame.

All of us have been given special gifts and abilities and you may not be using them or you’re not being allowed to use them. This verse depicts the very thing I’m talking about.

And he has filled him with the Spirit of God, with wisdom, with understanding, with knowledge and with all kinds of skills— ³² to make artistic designs for work in gold, silver and bronze, ³³ to cut and set stones, to work in wood and to engage in all kinds of artistic crafts. ³⁴ And he has given both him and Oholiab son of Ahisamak, of the tribe of Dan, the ability to teach others. ³⁵ 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. Exodus 35:31-35

Each of these people was given certain abilities and skills to do what they were designed to do. I know I have had desires to do things that I wasn’t skilled or talented to do. I had to learn to accept my limitations. However, God has given us all special gifts and abilities, but it is our responsibility to hone them, learn and attempt to perfect them.

Some of these gifts are spiritual gifts that God gives us at the moment of our salvation.

1 Corinthians 12

Encouragement – Exhortation

Mercy

Giving

Shepherding – Leadership

Prophesy – not telling future, speaking truth

Discernment

There are several more, but the purpose of these gifts were for edifying the church not ourselves. It’s sad when these gifts are neglected or restrained by those in leadership. Many are more concerned with control or popularity than truth. My encouragement to you is to allow God to continue to grow you and learn how and where to use these gifts.