Spiritual Gifts

Spiritual Gifts

There's a real danger in thinking your spiritual gifts are blessings God has given you for your own benefit. The problem with this selfish viewpoint is that you see your use of these as an option or luxury that you neglect or use according to your will alone. That's a far cry from a biblical understanding, which sees your spiritual gifts as expressions of gratitude God wills for you to use in service to others. 

The Bible teaches that God gives us spiritual gifts so we can give to others. We use our gifts to continue Christ's work on earth. The apostle Paul wrote: A spiritual gift is given to each of us as a means of helping the entire church. His point: your gifts aren't your possessions. Yes, they've been entrusted to you, but actually, they belong to the community of believers. The truth we need to think about is that God has woven a unique design into each of our hearts. And our spiritual gifts are part of that fabric.

So, what are your spiritual gifts? Not sure? Read the Bible's teaching on spiritual gifts in Romans 12, 1 Corinthians 12, and Ephesians 4. Then ask yourself where you've felt the greatest satisfaction serving the Lord. Carefully thinking through that question will go a very long way in clarifying this issue; because when you do what you love in order to show God's love, you'll find spiritual fulfillment and renewal. 

- Steve Arterburn 

"When I stand before God at the end of my life, I would hope that I would not have a single bit of talent left, and could say, I used everything you gave me."- Erma Bombeck

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