How To Use Our Spiritual Gifts

By Angie Lewis

Spiritual gifts are given to us when we become Christians. Some Christians aren’t sure if they have spiritual gifts, but all Christians, that have been born into God’s family, have a gift to be used for the good of others. Do you know what your gift is? The Holy Spirit gives all gifts to us and the Holy Spirit decides which gifts each one of us should have.

There are different kinds of gifts, but the same Spirit. There are different kinds of service, but the same Lord. There are different kinds of working, but the same God works all of them in all men.
I Corinthians 12:4-6

Your gift will not be exactly the same as your spouse’s gift or your best friends gift. For example, maybe all three of you are Christian writers but the subject you write on is different, but it is still the same Lord you are writing about. Some people write to encourage, some people write to teach, and some people write to get the truth out there. All gifts offer a different kind of service that reaches out to people in some way. Your gift may lead someone to Christ and that’s why God gives us gifts, so we can build up His church.

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, if it 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.
Romans 12:6-8

If we want to use our gifts efficiently we always must remember that all gifts and abilities come from God. We have been greatly blessed to receive such a talent or ability; therefore accomplishments should never be praised by oneself but by the power of God working in us. Without God we would not be able to accomplish such work because He is the one who enriched us with gifts and talents in the first place.

For in God you have been enriched in every way – in all your speaking and in all your knowledge.
Corinthians 1:5

To be able to properly apply our gifts and be of great Christian service to others we must dedicate our gifts to God’s service and not for our own self-seeking service or personal success. I believe the more we use our gifts to do the will of God the more He blesses us with abundance, prosperity, and knowledge. These too our gifts. Have you ever known someone who is unhappy that encourages others in the Lord? No. Have you ever known someone who lacks godly wisdom preach the good news of the gospel to others? No. We first must be gifted with an ability to be able to apply that gift into service efficiently.

To the man who pleases him, God gives wisdom, knowledge and happiness.
Ecclesiastes 2:26

We must use our gifts fully to do the work of the Lord. When we come to know what are gifts and abilities are we must always use them wholeheartedly in the Lord’s service, never holding back our gifts if we know it will serve to further God’s kingdom with. Once you identify what your gifts and abilities are ask God how you can use them to build up His church and further the growth of God’s spiritual kingdom here on earth.

Sometimes God wants us to use our creative ability to help bring people into the church, which is also a gift from God. In what ways do you think you can be inspired to use your gifts and further God’s kingdom? Since everyone’s gift is different, maybe combining two abilities and talents together might be very resourceful, what do you think? There are many ways that Christians can work together; using the gifts that God has blessed them with. Maybe you and a friend can put your gifts together and become very resourceful with your gifts. This is just one way in which we can use our spiritual gifts effectively.

The man who had received the five talents brought the other five. “Master”, he said, “you entrusted me with five talents. See, I have gained five more.” His master replied, “Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your masters happiness!”
Matthew 25:20-21