I love people. I love getting to know them, hearing their stories, finding out what makes them tick. I love comparing their interests, languages, and cultures with those of people who grew up with different backgrounds or in different places. I love learning about their families, their hopes, their sorrows, and their dreams. And I love discovering their hidden talents.
We all know people like that - people with largely unknown or unusual talents, who always end up surprising everyone around them whenever their gifts come to light. In fact, all of us have our own little personal party tricks up our sleeve, things that we can occasionally bring out and show people and cause a "wow factor."
These talents are wonderful. They open up avenues of conversation, and give us an access to people that we would not have otherwise had. Sometimes they create great opportunities for us, to perform, or volunteer, or serve in some way that would not have been possible without those specific gifts. Our gifts, in short, are a large part of who we are.
So why is it that we so easily forget about our talents? Instead of rejoicing in the gifts that God has given us, we find ourselves wishing that we had someone else's gift. Or, perhaps we compare our talents to those with a similar, but greater talent, downplaying our own giftedness. I can't tell you how many times I've scoffed at the comments of others who say that I am a talented dancer. "But there are so many people better that I am," I reason, "and so that must mean that I'm no good, right?"
We do ourselves - and everyone around us - a disservice when we insist that we have nothing to give the world. We have all been given gifts - something with which God wants up to bless others. It may not be obvious to you what your gift is. But you have one, I promise you. Find it. Use it. It may be something obvious, like art; it may be something more subtle, like the ability to listen to others. But don't convince yourself that you have nothing of worth, nothing to give. Find your hidden talents, and use them to allow God to bless your world.
We all know people like that - people with largely unknown or unusual talents, who always end up surprising everyone around them whenever their gifts come to light. In fact, all of us have our own little personal party tricks up our sleeve, things that we can occasionally bring out and show people and cause a "wow factor."
These talents are wonderful. They open up avenues of conversation, and give us an access to people that we would not have otherwise had. Sometimes they create great opportunities for us, to perform, or volunteer, or serve in some way that would not have been possible without those specific gifts. Our gifts, in short, are a large part of who we are.
So why is it that we so easily forget about our talents? Instead of rejoicing in the gifts that God has given us, we find ourselves wishing that we had someone else's gift. Or, perhaps we compare our talents to those with a similar, but greater talent, downplaying our own giftedness. I can't tell you how many times I've scoffed at the comments of others who say that I am a talented dancer. "But there are so many people better that I am," I reason, "and so that must mean that I'm no good, right?"
We do ourselves - and everyone around us - a disservice when we insist that we have nothing to give the world. We have all been given gifts - something with which God wants up to bless others. It may not be obvious to you what your gift is. But you have one, I promise you. Find it. Use it. It may be something obvious, like art; it may be something more subtle, like the ability to listen to others. But don't convince yourself that you have nothing of worth, nothing to give. Find your hidden talents, and use them to allow God to bless your world.
1 Corinthians 12:1-11
1 Now about the gifts of the Spirit, brothers and sisters, I do not want you to be uninformed. 2 You know that when you were pagans, somehow or other you were influenced and led astray to mute idols. 3 Therefore I want you to know that no one who is speaking by the Spirit of God says, “Jesus be cursed,” and no one can say, “Jesus is Lord,” except by the Holy Spirit.4 There are different kinds of gifts, but the same Spirit distributes them. 5 There are different kinds of service, but the same Lord. 6 There are different kinds of working, but in all of them and in everyone it is the same God at work.7 Now to each one the manifestation of the Spirit is given for the common good. 8 To one there is given through the Spirit a message of wisdom, to another a message of knowledge by means of the same Spirit, 9 to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healing by that one Spirit, 10 to another miraculous powers, to another prophecy, to another distinguishing between spirits, to another speaking in different kinds of tongues, and to still another the interpretation of tongues. 11 All these are the work of one and the same Spirit, and he distributes them to each one, just as he determines.
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