A Useful Gift

Read Proverbs 2

To those who use well what they are given, even more will be given, and they will have an abundance. But from those who do nothing, even what little they have will be taken away.

Matthew 25:29

When God created us in his image and for his glory, he gave us gifts. He made us unique by giving each of us certain abilities, talents, and character traits in a combination no one else possesses. Later, when we became believers, certain spiritual gifts were added to the original package (see 1 Corinthians 12).

Each of us has different gifts and in differing measures, but God would have us all use them for his purposes. Sometimes we doubt that we’re gifted, or we’re not sure how to use our gifts in the situations in which God has placed us. As we remember that the very air we breathe is a gift from our Creator, we can trust that he has total creative rights over all his creation and that he will guide us in the use of our giftedness.

Accordingly, as we remember his goodness and kindness toward us, we can come before him and say, “Father, all that I have is yours, and I lay it at your feet.” Then, we can go out into the world, determined to use the gifts that he has given us to glorify his awesome name.

A WORD FOR TODAY

What you rightly use you can’t lose.

Today, Lord, help me recognize my gifts and use them in ways that glorify you.