Bless the World By Using Your Gifts

I met with an educational leader today to pursue using my God-given abilities in a broader arena. He encouraged to step out in faith because God gave those gifts for a reason.

A good friend of mine also died this past week. Jeri Buckner was a wonderful wife and homemaker with a love of the Bible, sense of humor, and a phenomenal gift of encouragement. Though she suffered greatly in the last years of her life,  every time I went to encourage her, I came away more blessed than she because of her incredible gifts of optimism and joy.

All human beings are uniquely gifted of God.  We are each specially designed by our Creator for a certain task and destiny on the earth.  David rightly rejoiced in the fact that: "You have formed my inward parts;  You have covered me in my mother's womb.  I will praise you for I am fearfully and wonderfully made;  Marvelous are your works, and that my soul knows very well" (Psalm 139:13,14).

I don't think many of us know that truth "very well." When most of us look in the mirror in the morning after getting out of bed, I guarantee this is usually not our first thought about ourselves!  We don't like our looks, we're unsure of our talents (and possibly envious of others), we are somewhat bored with our jobs, and we do not easily grasp that God has given all of us unique talents and abilities. 

Yet we've all been given talents or gifts that God wants us to use to be a blessing in the world.  No one on earth has the same array of abilities and strengths.  They are uniquely given to each one of us.  The more we understand and put them into practice, the more fulfilled we will be as people and the greater will be our impact in the lives of others.

One of the smartest decisions of life is taking bold and clear steps to be who you were created to be. The Bible says, "It is a person's "gift that makes room for them and brings them before great men (Proverbs 18:16)." 

It is also the secret to a fulfilled life.  Boredom will exist in your life to the degree that you are not using your God-given talents and abilities to glorify Him. This was the reason for your creation:  to glorify God by sharing your essence and gifts with His world.

Studies consistently show that the vast majority of people in the world are unhappy about their current circumstances.  There are many reasons for this.  One of them is that so few people really understand who they are, how they are motivated, and what they are the best at doing.  Without this knowledge, they cannot make their best contribution to the world.  Without this understanding of their own gifts, much leadership and blessing is lost.

I once  read a book called The Truth About You  by Arthur F. Miller and Ralph T. Mattson.  In one of its insightful chapters, the authors share this perspective:

"Each of us can be a so-called "gifted person". . if you identify the gifts you have been given, submit them to whatever training may be necessary, and then employ your gifts in work which requires them.  These are good gifts, and if used in work appropriate for them, will yield you and those who employ you much material and personal reward."

"No person has achieved success in any field of endeavor except through reliance on gifts.  What is true of the individual is also true of the organization.  No business or institution has built a successful service of product except as a direct result of some men and women using gifts which have been given to them.  If those gifts are not present, what was a success will fail.  There is no "self-made"successful man or woman.  ”There are only people smart enough or grateful enough to be good stewards of their gifts."

Amen.

We all need to "discover our design" and then we can do the best job that is possible to do.  If each of us is to make a positive impact in our needy world, then we must be the best at what we do.  This cannot be done if we are doing the wrong things.

Millie Nelcamp, who lived in  Akron, Ohio, was a second-cousin of mine.  In the eyes of the world she was not viewed as very significant as she had major problems coordinating her muscles and she spoke with a pronounced slur (similar to cerebral palsy). 

But Millie had a gift from God that she could have easily rationalized away in the light of her physical limitations.  She could see beauty and paint.  The problem is that her hands did not work well, so instead she used her feet.  What wonderful pieces of art came forth from this amazing and motivated lady. Some of her magnificent paintings still hang in my parents' home.  Millie used her gift as a good steward of the gracious gifting of God.

In order to be productive human beings, we must all discover and use our gifts for God and others.  We must be the best mothers, fathers, plumbers, teachers, scientists, businessmen, artists, carpenters, writers, caterers, film makers, singers, programmers and the like because we are doing what we were created to do well to glorify God and benefit people.

If you're unsure of your gifts, and really want to use your life for the glory of God, I would recommend a few methods of discovery:

1. Turn off some of the entertainment and look for ways to serve your family, neighborhood, church and beyond. Talents and gifts naturally come forth when channels of service are employed.

2. Ask others what talents and gifts they see in your life. Oftentimes, family members, close friends,  spiritual leaders, or employers have a clearer, objective view of the strengths that you have to offer.  Insights from friends and leaders have been very helpful in my own life.

3. Consider taking one of the many "Talent Tests" that exist in our world such as Strengths Finder, Myers-Briggs, SHAPE, SIMA, or SOI. A couple of these popular tests really helped me understand myself.

And most importantly, have many deep and satisfying chats with God about the wonderful person that he created you to be. He knows you the best. He drew the road map for your own unique life. He will forgive your sins, strengthen your insecurities, give you vision, and empower you to make a difference in the world around you..

Bless the world by using your gifts!

Remember: What you don't use you lose.  Many people are waiting for what you have to offer.

And once you've finished the course and run the race of life to its end, listen for that majesty voice that will whisper in your ear: "Well done good and faithful servant (Matthew 25:23).

His smile will be your greatest reward.