Your Gifts and Talents Are Not Just for Your Good
By Rick Warren
“I always thank my God for you and for the gracious gifts he has given you, now that you belong to Christ Jesus. Now you have every spiritual gift you need as you eagerly wait for the return of our Lord Jesus Christ.” 1 Corinthians 1:4, 7 (NLT)
When God thought you up, he created you with a number of different gifts, talents, abilities, and skills. There are certain ways you think and things you do that you're just naturally good at.
Those gifts and abilities are how God shaped you. But God did not shape you uniquely for your benefit. Your gifts are not just for your own good. Your gifts are for the benefit of everybody else. And that means their gifts are for your benefit, too.
One of my gifts is teaching. I’ve put that gift to work for many years now for the benefit of other people. In the same way, your gifts can benefit the people in your life.
You may already know what you're really good at. Why do you think God made you good at those things? He wants you to use those gifts for others!
How should you use those gifts or talents in the time left before Jesus comes back? Well, you should use them to reach others for Jesus. You should use them to be an ambassador of love in the world. In fact, if you’re not using those unique gifts the way God intended, then you're really just wasting them.
God didn't give you gifts just to use them for yourself. James 4:17 says it like this: “Remember, it is sin to know what you ought to do and then not do it" (NLT).
If you know what you're good at and you know that many people in the world probably need your help, what are you going to do about it? Who are you serving? Who are you going to help between now and when the story ends and eternity begins?
God has given you—like the church the apostle Paul wrote to in 1 Corinthians—everything you need to serve well. "I always thank my God for you and for the gracious gifts he has given you, now that you belong to Christ Jesus. Now you have every spiritual gift you need as you eagerly wait for the return of our Lord Jesus Christ” (1 Corinthians 1:4, 7 NLT).
Don’t waste your God-given abilities. Use your gifts to serve God by serving others.
PLAY today’s audio teaching from Pastor Rick
For more Daily Hope with Rick Warren, please visit pastorrick.com!
Be Encouraged Each Day to Live Out God’s Purposes
As thanks for your gift below to help share the gospel with more people around the world through Daily Hope, we’ll send you Pastor Rick’s new book, Daily Hope Devotional: 365 Days of Purpose, Peace, and Promise.
Each devotional starts out with a Bible verse, followed by teaching that explains God’s Word and shows you how to apply it daily so you can face any challenge and live the life you were created to live.
As a special bonus when you give, we’ll also send you What's Driving Your Life?: A 10-Day Turnaround for a Fresh Start. Featuring 10 hand-picked devotions from Pastor Rick’s new book, they’ll guide anyone feeling stressed, worried, or discouraged toward seeking God for a fresh start.
Request your copy below when you give—and take the first step towards a year of real purpose, lasting peace, and unfailing promises.
Thank you for your partnership!
*The USA IRS code permits you to deduct the amount of your financial gift to Daily Hope that exceeds the fair market value of materials you received from Daily Hope.
This devotional © 2018 by Rick Warren. All rights reserved. Used by permission.
You can listen to Rick Warren on OnePlace.com.
