Talents, Blessings and Spiritual Gifts Part 3
Owe it to God
By Ereeny Mikhail
God shows us that the differences in our talents, blessings and spiritual gifts are all puzzle pieces that complete a greater purpose. But before we understand the meaning of all this, let’s explore blessings and spiritual gifts.
Differently to a talent, a blessing (n). is described in the Oxford dictionary, as something that is good or helpful. So, living in a country that is not in a warzone is good, having a roof over our head is good, having decent health is good and so on. Yet, often we feel we are in a shortage when it comes to blessings. Sometimes we wish we had more money or looked a certain way or was doing a certain thing. We work hard to try to apply the secret recipe to increase our blessings and double them but find ourselves still hungry for more.
However, it is important to recognise that although working hard to increase our blessings is important, it is also essential not to get consumed in this. St Paul in Philippians 4:19 states, “God shall supply all your need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus.” If we are applying the secret recipe then we must know that we are not in shortage. God is supplying all our need and we do not need more than this. On the contrary, we should be utilising our blessing for Christ, just as the woman with the two mites did; “but she out of her poverty put in all the livelihood that she had.” (Luke 21:4)
Further to this, it is essential to re-evaluate our standards. There isn’t a level of any vain thing that we need to live up to except our own and Gods. If we do so, then there is nothing we lack.
This means, if God has given us a body and mind in good health, then we must use these to the best of our abilities. But let’s consider that someone may not feel handsome or beautiful because they have gained a significant amount of weight due to overeating which has affected their health. I think then perhaps they must recognise that they are not using their blessing, of good health, that God initially gave them as best they can. Our body and mind are a temple of Christ and we should treat it as such. “…he will be a vessel for honour, sanctified and useful for the Master, prepared for every good work.” (II Timothy 2:21) If we do not feel that we are doing enough with the blessings God has bestowed on us, including taking care of our ‘sound mind’ and body, then we must. This is His vessel that we must make useful and prepare it for His good work. If we are doing so, then there is no more we need. There is no other standard we need to live up to.
Contrastingly, a spiritual gift is often differentiated from talents and blessings, as they are given to those who accept and believe in Christ. It is made for the “edifying of the body of Christ” (Ephesians 4:12). Though, it is important to note that talents and blessings, can be used as spiritual gifts.
This differentiation lays in the fact that the spiritual gift can be lost. The talent remains, but it cannot used for edification if it is degraded. St Paul states in Romans 12:4-8 “For as we having many members in one body, but all the members do not have the same function, so we being many, are one body in Christ, and individually members of one another. Having then gifts different according to the grace that is given to us, let us use them; if prophecy, let us prophesy in proportion to our faith; or ministry, let us use it in our ministering; he who teaches, in teaching; he who exhorts, in exhortation; he who gives, with liberality; he who leads, with diligence; he who shows mercy, with cheerfulness.” Each of our spiritual gifts is different and useful and all for the purpose of ‘edifying’ the body of Christ. There is no one better or worse than the other. Thus, let us keep these spiritual gifts by recognising this.
What is the meaning of all this? Talents? Blessings? Spiritual Gifts? St Paul tells us in I Corinthians 12:14-20: “For in fact the body is not one member but many. If the foot should say, “Because I am not a hand, I am not of the body,” is it therefore not of the body? And if the ear should say, “Because I am not an eye, I am not of the body,” is it therefore not of the body? If the whole body were an eye, where would be the hearing? If the whole were hearing, where would be the smelling? But now God has set the members, each one of them, in the body just as He pleased. And if they were all one member, where would the body be? But now indeed there are many members, yet one body.” If we all had the same talents, blessings and spiritual gifts we could not function. Imagine saying, the architect is more important than the builder. So, if we were all architects, then who would build the house? Or what if we said being a good speaker is more important than being a good listener. Then who would be listening to us when we speak? Every talent, blessing, and spiritual gift is important to complete the cycle of life. It is all important for the greater purpose, that is Christ.
Conclusively, we need to remember that we are all clay in the Hands of the Potter, moulded for His use. Let us acknowledge that:
“Our gifts and talents should also be turned over to Him. They should be recognized for what they are, God’s loan to us, and should never be considered in any sense our own. We have no more right to claim credit for special abilities than for blue eyes or strong muscles. ‘For who makes you different from another? And what have you that you did not receive?’”
A.W. Tozer, The Pursuit of God