Are you using God’s gifts wisely? God has given mankind material and spiritual gifts since the creation of man and woman. However, God has allowed everyone to chose how they will use their gifts. Some have chosen to use their gifts unwisely, while others have used their gifts wisely. Obeying and seeking to please the Lord with what he gave us is using our gifts wisely. You and I can choose to use our God-given gifts wisely.
Examples of How Some Chose to Use God’s Gifts
Adam and Eve were given the gift of life, a garden of paradise and the ability to personally commune with God. However, in their desire to become like God they chose to disobey Him. By disobeying and sinning against God, they lost their place of paradise and spiritual communion with God. They brought a curse of death upon themselves and all their descendants (Genesis, chapter 3).
Cain and Abel, the first descendants of Adam and Eve, were given gifts and talents as farmers. Cain chose to use God’s gifts primarily for himself. God cursed him. Abel chose to please God with the first fruit of what God gave him. God favored and blessed him. (Genesis 4:2-8).
King Saul, whom God made the first king of Israel, chose to use his position for personal gain. God replaced Saul on the throne. King David, was installed as Israel’s second king. God saw David as “a man after God’s own heart.” (1 Samuel 13:13-14). God’s promised Messiah, Jesus Christ, was a descendant of David (Matthew 1:1).
Judas was privileged to be one of Jesus’ disciples. But Judas placed more value on money than on being a disciple of the Lord. In his disapointment, Judas hung himself. Other disciples prized being selected to be the Lord’s close disciples. The Lord blessed them to be foundational members of his Church (Matthew 26:14-26; Ephesians 2:20).
In summary, Jesus said, in Luke 19:12-27, some people are unproductive in the use of their gifts for selfish reasons; and as a result they lose their rewards. But he said there are others who choose to use their God-given talents wisely; and they will be greatly rewarded (Luke 19:12-27). However, we can choose to be among those who use our gifts and talents wisely; and be greatly rewarded by the Lord.
Using God’s Spiritual Gifts Wisely
The Biblet shows that there are many spiritual gifts that the Holy Spirit gives to the people of God. The Apostle Paul listed many of these gifts in his writings (Romans 12:6-8; 1 Corinthians 12:4-11, 28; Ephesians4:11). The Word of God also gives us knowledge on how we should use these gifts effectively for the glory of the Lord and the benefit of his church.
Paul is an example of a person with many God-given gifts, but who needed help and directions from God to use them wisely:
Paul could boast of much learning and religious zeal, but Jesus had to humble and redirect him (Acts 9).Because of the Apostle’s great spiritual gifts, God gave him “a thorn in the flesh, a messenger of Satan,” to keep him from becoming conceited. Paul had been “caught up to the third heaven” and received “surpassing great revelations.” He was able to perform “signs, wonders and miracles” (2 Corinthians 12:7).
In comparing his abilities to those of others, Paul said he had more that he could boast of; however, he learned to boast only in power of God and Father of the Lord Jesus Christ (2 Corinthians 11:16-33).
We can learn from others about using God’s gifts wisely:
If we are not sure about our gifts or how to use them wisely, we can ask God to reveal them and show us how we should properly use them.
Learning to avoid becoming conceited may be especially challenging for those who have gifts that are highly esteemed by others. Even while praying and feeling we are humble, there is a possibility of becoming proud. Perhaps unwittingly, a pharisee, revealed his pride when he prayed alone: “God, I thank you that I am not like other people” (Luke 18:11).
As you pray about your gifts, you should ask God to help you to guard against pride that may come into play, with the use of your gifts. All of us have inherited the tendency to be prideful from Adam and Eve. The devil will not only tempt you to use your gifts for personal gain, but he will tempt you to be lifted up in pride because of your gifts.
None of us want be given a thorn, like the Lord gave Paul, which he sorely protested, to keep us from being high-minded . We should pray that we are able to use our gifts to glorify the Lord without becoming puffed with self pride.
Acknowledge that all good and perfect gifts come from the Lord (James 1:17). Recognize that even your salvation is a gift of God; not of your own works that you should boast (Ephesians 2:8-9). Understand that the ability to uses your gifts comes from the Lord—“For in him we live move and have our being” (John 15:5; Acts 17:28).
Whatever you do, “do it as of the ability which God giveth: that God in all things may be glorified through Christ, to whom be praise and dominion for ever and ever” (Colossians1:16; Peter 4:11KJV).
When you obey and seek to always please the Lord, you will be using God’s gifts wisely.
