Deep within the human spirit is a desire, and a capability, to do wonderful things. Because we were made in the image of God, we inherited from him the desire to create, to accomplish, to make things happen. But God wouldn’t give us these desires without the means to carry them out. These “means” are called abilities, or talents. They are the gifts God has given us to help us accomplish great things for him, and to help us enjoy life. How we use or misuse these abilities ultimately determines our quality of life—quality being defined not as comfort or the accumulation of things, but in terms of character, joy, and lasting satisfaction. Our goal is to first discover our abilities, then exercise them, and finally channel them toward good and not evil.
Ephesians 4:11-12 . . . He . . . gave these gifts . . . to equip God’s people to do his work and build up the church . . . until we come to such unity in our faith and knowledge of God’s Son that we will be mature and full grown in the Lord.
God has empowered each of us with special abilities; no one is left empty-handed. But how we use these abilities is up to us.
Exodus 4:10-12 . . . Moses pleaded . . . “O Lord, I’m just not a good speaker. I never have been, and I’m not now, even after you have spoken to me. I’m clumsy with words.” “Who makes mouths?” the Lord asked him. “Who makes people so they can speak or not speak, hear or not hear, see or not see? Is it not I, the Lord? Now go, and do as I have told you. I will help you speak well, and I will tell you what to say.”
If God is asking you to do something, he will give you the ability or the extra resources to get the job done.
1 Timothy 4:7-8 . . . Spend your time and energy in training yourself for spiritual fitness. Physical exercise has some value, but spiritual exercise is much more important.
Properly exercising our abilities will help us grow spiritually.
Matthew 25:21 . . . Well done, my good and faithful servant. You have been faithful in handling this small amount, so now I will give you many more responsibilities.
We are responsible to use well what God has given us.
Psalm 147:10 . . . The strength of a horse does not impress him; how puny in his sight is the strength of a man.
You may long for the speed of a horse, but you would not want to become a horse. Very often the abilities we want are found in a person we would not want to be like.
2 Corinthians 3:5 . . . It is not that we think we can do anything of lasting value by ourselves. Our only power and success come from God.
Rejoice in your God-given abilities, but let that rejoicing be poured out as a thank offering to the God who gave them. Without God, our abilities are dreams without power, cups without water, engines without fuel.
Romans 12:6 . . . God has given each of us the ability to do certain things well.
Our talents and abilities are gifts from God. It is better to be thankful for the gifts we have and maximize them than to dream of gifts we do not have and feel that God shortchanged us.
Ephesians 3:18-20 . . . May you . . . understand, as all God’s people should, how wide, how long, how high, and how deep his love really is.
God loves all believers wholly and unconditionally, so much so that he sent his own Son, Jesus, to die in our place so that we could live forever with him.
Hebrews 11:26 . . . [Moses] thought it was better to suffer for the sake of the Messiah than to own the treasures of Egypt, for he was looking ahead to the great reward that God would give him.
What is keeping you from using your abilities? Is it your own lack of discipline or circumstances beyond your control? If it is truly circumstances beyond your control, then take comfort in the fact that God still loves you, and the suffering that is keeping you from reaching your potential will bring you a great reward in heaven.
Matthew 25:29 . . . To those who use well what they are given, even more will be given, and they will have an abundance.
