In 1 Peter 4:10 I read, “Each one, as a good manager of God’s different gifts, must use for the good of others the special gift he has received from God." (GNT)
It’s important to know what purpose and destiny God created me for.
In order to fulfill my destiny, I must first recognize the gifts God has given me to use. These gifts are basically the cards I’m dealt in life.
They include the things I can’t control, like my parents, nationality, and my race. They also include my SHAPE— my spiritual gifts, heart, abilities, personality, and experiences. These are the things that make me uniquely me.
I’m responsible for making the most of these God-given gifts. But I’m not responsible for the gifts God didn’t give me. In other words, if I am not artistically gifted, I’m not expected to paint pictures like Rembrandt. If I’m not mechanically minded, God likely won’t call me to bless an elderly neighbor with oil changes.
But God does expect me to use my own gifts for the good of others: “Each one, as a good manager of God’s different gifts, must use for the good of others the special gift he has received from God” (1 Peter 4:10 GNT).
When I get to heaven, God isn’t going to compare me with anyone else, but he will compare me with myself. What did I do with what I was given? What could I have done if I had trusted God a little bit more? Romans 14:12 says, “Each of us will give an account of ourselves to God” (NIV).
The Old Testament tells the story of Esther, a Hebrew woman who became queen and rescued her people. She had three assets that God gave her to fulfill her destiny. She was intelligent, physically beautiful, and had an engaging personality. Because of these qualities, “Esther won the favor of everyone who saw her . . . She won [the king’s] favor and approval more than any of the other virgins. So he set a royal crown on her head and made her queen” (Esther 2:15-17 NIV).
God gave Esther specific gifts for a purpose. In the same way, God has given me gifts for a purpose. And just like Esther, I have a responsibility to be a good steward of those gifts — not for selfish uses but for the good of others.
God used Esther’s gifts to save the Hebrew people from a potentially murderous king. How might God use my gifts to benefit others?
In summary, it’s important to know what purpose and destiny God created me for. To fulfill my destiny, I must first recognize the gifts God has given me to use. These gifts are basically the cards I’m dealt in life. They include the things I can’t control, and also include my SHAPE. These are the things that make me uniquely me. I’m responsible for making the most of these God-given gifts. But I’m not responsible for the gifts God didn’t give me. God expects me to use my own gifts for the good of others. When I get to heaven, God isn’t going to compare me with anyone else, but he will compare me with myself. What did I do with what I was given? What could I have done if I had trusted God a little bit more? God has given me gifts for a purpose. I have a responsibility to be a good steward of those gifts — not for selfish uses but for the good of others. So, I need to consider how might God use my gifts to benefit others?
My abilities should be faithfully used in serving others; none are for my own exclusive enjoyment. I don't have the right to use them as I please. I have gifts, I need to find and use them. Even as I seek to discover what they are, if I see a need, seek to meet it. I may end up finding gifts in areas I might not have guessed. Fulfilling my destiny requires recognizing the unique way God has created me. God has given me gifts for a purpose. I have a responsibility to be a good steward of those gifts. A key to living a productive and fulfilling life is to use my gifts to serve God by serving others.
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