God Uses Our Talents to Test Our Unselfishness
By Rick Warren
“God has given each of you a gift from his great variety of spiritual gifts. Use them well to serve one another” (1 Peter 4:10 NLT).
God uses our talents to test our unselfishness. You have to decide in life for whom or what you’re going to live. You’re either going to live a self-centered, miserly life or you’re going to live for something greater than yourself — the Kingdom of God.
Faithful people don’t live for themselves. They realize that the talents God gave them are not for their own benefit; they’re to make the world a better place.
When God made you, he gave you all kinds of gifts, talents, and abilities. We call it your SHAPE: your Spiritual gifts, Heart, Abilities, Personality, and Experiences. These five things make you you. And God made you you. There’s nobody like you in the whole world, and he wants you to be you for his glory.
God shaped you to serve him, and there’s only one way to do that: by serving other people.
Faithful people realize that their talents are not for their benefit. You may have a talent for art and say that you do it “just because you love to do it.” That’s nice, but that’s not a good enough motive. God didn’t give you artistic ability just so you can love to do it. He gave it to you so you can use your art in some way to help other people.
Some people have an ability to fix things. Some people are good at math. Some people are good at closing deals. Some people are good at music. Some people are good at organizing. And some people are good at trimming and gardening.
God made us all different so that everything in the world gets done. If we all liked to do the same thing, there would be a whole lot left undone.
You are the steward of your talents, and God is watching to see if you use what he gave you effectively on Earth. If you use those talents effectively on Earth, he’s going to give you more responsibility in Heaven.
Have you ever thought about why didn’t God just create us and take us to Heaven? Why does he put us here on a broken planet for 70 or 80 years? He put you here because life is a test and a trust and a temporary assignment. He’s watching to see if you are faithful to use what he gave you here on Earth to bless other people.
The Bible says in 1 Peter 4:10, “God has given each of you a gift from his great variety of spiritual gifts. Use them well to serve one another” (NLT). God gave you talents, and he wants you to be faithful with them.
Reflection:
How are you using your talents to serve others?
Test your motives in everything you do. For example, are you serving somewhere to help others and glorify God or to receive some notice or glory for yourself?
(Source: from my friend's {@catietan} devotional materials)
Good morning my dear sweet and grateful steemit family and friends! Today's devotion is a very timely reminder to me and for all of us here. Thanks to my faithful and blessed friend, @catietan for her sharing.
<center>"***When God made you, he gave you all kinds of gifts, talents, and abilities. We call it your SHAPE: your Spiritual gifts, Heart, Abilities, Personality, and Experiences. These five things make you you. And God made you you. There’s nobody like you in the whole world, and he wants you to be you for his glory. God shaped you to serve him, and there’s only one way to do that: by serving other people.***"</center>
These are wonderful lines that keep me reminded that I am unique and special in God's eye. He created me to be me and nobody does it like me. We are all special and we are all created by our Heavenly Father. He gave us talents and abilities for us to serve others and in everything we do, He is being glorified.
"***God made us all different so that everything in the world gets done. If we all liked to do the same thing, there would be a whole lot left undone.***"
I used to wish that I am somebody, I used to think that I am less talented and or not able to do something. But because of this, I was reminded to do everything I can because I am serving the King of kings and Lord of Lords.
"***You are the steward of your talents, and God is watching to see if you use what he gave you effectively on Earth. If you use those talents effectively on Earth, he’s going to give you more responsibility in Heaven.***"
I even wished to have the talents of other people, yes I have wished I could sing and dance well like others do. I love to sing but I definitely don't have the voice of a singer. I have moved on and accepted this fact :-) But when I sing I sing it just for the sake of singing a particular song hehehe :-D I don't know I just love to sing and yes, I also love to dance. :-) But I have also accepted that I don't have the moves of a dancer, yes, I don't have that swag but I have the desire to dance. :-) Anyway, I have learned to give thanks to God for all the talents and skills He gifted me with and I pray that I will be able to use them for His glory. I pray that each one of us will be a good steward of the "***SHAPE***" (Spiritual gifts, Heart, Abilities, Personality, and Experiences) God has given us.
This is my morning devotion, as I start my day today. I hope you have been blessed and reminded too that you are special, you are talented, you are unique and God loves you unconditionally. Don't ever compare and don't belittle yourself, that would be an insult to the One who created you. God loves each of us unconditionally.❤️
Good morning :-) This is my morning #ulog today :-)
Thank you very much for your time and God bless :-)
I am @sashley a.k.a. shirleynpenalosa, a recipient of God's love, mercy and grace. ❤️
https://steemitimages.com/0x0/https://steemitimages.com/DQmRhsZh7zBU5grNJZR5omrMEfRu2E1x1jSZ4pUCCka19x1/image.png
Have a blessed and Hot Summer month of May 2018 everyone :-)❤️
I am forever grateful to God every day of my life for giving me everything that I need and praise Him all the more for not giving me everything I want. To God be all the honor, praise and glory ❤️ :-)
@surpassinggoogle is such a generous person and has a very big heart for all of us here. Please support him as a witness by voting him at https://steemit.com/~witnesses and type in "steemgigs" at the first search box.
https://steemitimages.com/DQmcRXGo9hnH2kxeFmW6QwbzLDirpHRWFk3YqVmqyyJpsH8/image.png
(Photo credits: from sir @surpassinggoogle's post footer)
If you want to give him witness voting decisions on your behalf, visit https://steemit.com/~witnesses again and type in "surpassinggoogle" in the second box as a proxy.
@paradise-found is a wonderful person, a very humble and generous encourager, let us also support him by voting and typing in "gratefulvibes" at the search box
https://steemitimages.com/0x0/https://media.discordapp.net/attachments/388013777901191172/398191454348115989/papi.jpg?width=497&height=371
(Photo credits: mam @sunnylife)
Other good witnesses to recommend:
@yabapmatt
@teamsteem
@jerrybanfield
@hr1
@acidyo
@blocktrades
@curie
@beanz
@rcarter.witness
@reggaemuffin
@arcange
They need our support
Follow us on #gratefulvibes discord channel (positive and uplifting attitude)
https://discord.gg/7bvvJG
https://steemitimages.com/DQmTgMLrbp2EkayEBYfvdtmi8avg2hKZwbMXvjf9pkK118B/image.png
(logo created by @bloghound)
I am a proud member of Steemit North Luzon
https://steemitimages.com/0x0/https://scontent.fmnl4-5.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t1.15752-9/31318384_10214651557076937_4796217231010693120_n.jpg?_nc_cat=0&oh=578647f73f64850c2278e2bb83781b10&oe=5B955E5F
(credits to @jhunbaniqued)
https://steemitimages.com/DQmYzS62cjU4pC2HmuAwQELDpqs4cTJfc6c6EbTY5rpFjhB/SHIRLEYNPENALOSA.gif