In the busyness of life, have you ever paused long enough to question what you needed to do to make your life truly matter? Each day is filled with much – most of the time too much! - activity, but what is it all for? In a week (or a month, a year or a decade) will the things that get accomplished in the next 24 hours make any lasting difference? Will anyone even care tomorrow that so much hard work was accomplished today?
These are some deep questions, I know, yet they are questions that are, if not vocalized, at least felt by many people on the inside. It’s important to know that our life, our very existence, is not for, well, naught.
For many years of my life, I admired (yet secretly envied) those people I knew who seemed to be born knowing exactly what their purpose or special talent was for this life. Their yearning, fueled by a deep-seated drive, helped them stay focused while they diligently worked to bring to life the inner vision that they were fully confident was their path to follow. I longed to be like these ‘born-knowers’ who were sure of their purpose in life.
Each of us has been given at least one talent – a gift, if you will.
I Corinthians 7:7b “But each man has his own gift from God; one has this gift, another has
that.”
Many times, a gift can manifest itself during childhood and, if recognized and properly nurtured, will continue to grow as the child matures. It will seem as if he or she has blossomed overnight into their life’s calling once they step into the adult role that they’ve been groomed for over the course of their young life.
There are individuals I know who have specific talents that are obvious to anyone who is around them for any length of time. One person can sing beautifully while another plays a musical instrument effortlessly; one individual paints incredible life-like pictures while yet another creates intricately designed quilts.
For others of us who aren’t sure what we want to be when we grow up, we also have been endowed with a gift, though sometimes it may be less easy to spot the special talent or gift.
This inability could be for a number of reasons. Perhaps the special skill was noticed in the child, but never nurtured properly for one reason or another. Or perhaps it wasn’t an artistic talent at all, but rather a ‘sense’ talent that involved good listening, encouraging words or a gentle, healing touch. Or maybe it was a gift of working with animals, children, or the infirm.
An enduring satisfaction comes to each of us when we use the gift God has instilled in us. If
you aren’t already aware of what your gift is, how do you discover what it is? If you ask God, He will show you. Most of the time, the talent you have been given will come to the forefront of your current activities in some way or other. It’s not uncommon for people to unexpectedly comment about something you do well, such as organizing, or speaking well, or inventing, or any myriads of other things. Or it could be the long-standing dream that exists deep down inside of you that constantly instills a longing in you to accomplish something specific like learning another language, or traveling, or teaching, or volunteering, or working with a special needs group. Or else it could be the task that brings you the most satisfaction either during the process or else upon the completion of it.
We have all been given at least one special talent, skill, or gift.
Romans 12:6-8 “We have different gifts, according to the grace given us. If a man’s gift is prophesying, let him use it in proportion to his faith. If it is serving, let him serve; if it is teaching, let him teach; if it is encouraging, let him encourage; it if is contributing to the needs of others, let him give generously; if it is leadership, let him govern diligently; if it is showing mercy, let him do it cheerfully.”
Once you discover your particular gift, what then? It should be used to serve others.
1 Peter 4:10-11 “Each one should use whatever gift he has received to serve others, faithfully
administering God’s grace in its various forms.”
We do have a purpose. You have a purpose. Each of us was endowed with some special ability by God’s design at the time we were knit together in our mother’s womb. Once we put our gift into use, we may not fully realize in this life the extent to which we have impacted another’s life, but we will find out in the next. And that’s something else wonderful to look forward to.
Colossians 3:23-24 “Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men, since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving.”
What to do? The choice is yours. He’s waiting for you.
(For more information about forming a relationship with the Lord, see How You Can Find Him located at the top of this page.)
These are some deep questions, I know, yet they are questions that are, if not vocalized, at least felt by many people on the inside. It’s important to know that our life, our very existence, is not for, well, naught.
For many years of my life, I admired (yet secretly envied) those people I knew who seemed to be born knowing exactly what their purpose or special talent was for this life. Their yearning, fueled by a deep-seated drive, helped them stay focused while they diligently worked to bring to life the inner vision that they were fully confident was their path to follow. I longed to be like these ‘born-knowers’ who were sure of their purpose in life.
Each of us has been given at least one talent – a gift, if you will.
I Corinthians 7:7b “But each man has his own gift from God; one has this gift, another has
that.”
Many times, a gift can manifest itself during childhood and, if recognized and properly nurtured, will continue to grow as the child matures. It will seem as if he or she has blossomed overnight into their life’s calling once they step into the adult role that they’ve been groomed for over the course of their young life.
There are individuals I know who have specific talents that are obvious to anyone who is around them for any length of time. One person can sing beautifully while another plays a musical instrument effortlessly; one individual paints incredible life-like pictures while yet another creates intricately designed quilts.
For others of us who aren’t sure what we want to be when we grow up, we also have been endowed with a gift, though sometimes it may be less easy to spot the special talent or gift.
This inability could be for a number of reasons. Perhaps the special skill was noticed in the child, but never nurtured properly for one reason or another. Or perhaps it wasn’t an artistic talent at all, but rather a ‘sense’ talent that involved good listening, encouraging words or a gentle, healing touch. Or maybe it was a gift of working with animals, children, or the infirm.
An enduring satisfaction comes to each of us when we use the gift God has instilled in us. If
you aren’t already aware of what your gift is, how do you discover what it is? If you ask God, He will show you. Most of the time, the talent you have been given will come to the forefront of your current activities in some way or other. It’s not uncommon for people to unexpectedly comment about something you do well, such as organizing, or speaking well, or inventing, or any myriads of other things. Or it could be the long-standing dream that exists deep down inside of you that constantly instills a longing in you to accomplish something specific like learning another language, or traveling, or teaching, or volunteering, or working with a special needs group. Or else it could be the task that brings you the most satisfaction either during the process or else upon the completion of it.
We have all been given at least one special talent, skill, or gift.
Romans 12:6-8 “We have different gifts, according to the grace given us. If a man’s gift is prophesying, let him use it in proportion to his faith. If it is serving, let him serve; if it is teaching, let him teach; if it is encouraging, let him encourage; it if is contributing to the needs of others, let him give generously; if it is leadership, let him govern diligently; if it is showing mercy, let him do it cheerfully.”
Once you discover your particular gift, what then? It should be used to serve others.
1 Peter 4:10-11 “Each one should use whatever gift he has received to serve others, faithfully
administering God’s grace in its various forms.”
We do have a purpose. You have a purpose. Each of us was endowed with some special ability by God’s design at the time we were knit together in our mother’s womb. Once we put our gift into use, we may not fully realize in this life the extent to which we have impacted another’s life, but we will find out in the next. And that’s something else wonderful to look forward to.
Colossians 3:23-24 “Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men, since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving.”
What to do? The choice is yours. He’s waiting for you.
(For more information about forming a relationship with the Lord, see How You Can Find Him located at the top of this page.)
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