Doing more than toying with your giftedness …

If you’re a Christian, it is likely that you’ve heard a sermon or two about how God has given every Christian a gift to be used in the church. What we don’t often hear much about is how impactful we could be if we were serious — even dedicated — about using our gifts for the glory of God and the good of His kingdom.

The apostle Paul certainly urges us to apply ourselves fully to putting to use our gifts …

“In his grace, God has given us different gifts for doing certain things well. So if God has given you the ability to prophesy, speak out with as much faith as God has given you. If your gift is serving others, serve them well. If you are a teacher, teach well. If your gift is to encourage others, be encouraging. If it is giving, give generously. If God has given you leadership ability, take the responsibility seriously. And if you have a gift for showing kindness to others, do it gladly,” Romans 12:6-8.

God giving us gifts is His providing us with both opportunity and ability to pour ourselves into others and efforts in a way that can make a profound difference … that is, if we dedicate ourselves to using what God has given us. Gary Inrig, in his book, “A Call to Excellence,” shares an insightful story about the use of talents that can be applied to the use of spiritual gifts as well:

Bertoldo de Giovanni is a name even the most enthusiastic lover of art is unlikely to recognize. He was the pupil of Donatello, the greatest sculptor of his time, and he was the teacher of Michelangelo, the greatest sculptor of all time. Michelangelo was only 14 years old when he came to Bertoldo, but it was already obvious that he was enormously gifted. Bertoldo was wise enough to realize that gifted people are often tempted to coast rather than to grow, and therefore he kept trying to pressure his young prodigy to work seriously at his art. One day he came into the studio to find Michelangelo toying with a piece of sculpture far beneath his abilities. Bertoldo grabbed a hammer, stomped across the room, and smashed the work into tiny pieces, shouting this unforgettable message, “Michelangelo, talent is cheap; dedication is costly!”

It can be easy to toy with our talent or the gifts God gives, that’s cheap; but dedication costs us. How are you putting to use the gift God has given you? Are you toying with it, or using it to His glory with dedication?

Scotty