Romans 12:5-8 says, "So we being many, are one body in Christ, and every one members one of another. Having then gifts differing according to the grace that is given to us, whether prophecy, let us prophesy according to the proportion of faith; Or ministry, let us wait on our ministering: or he that teacheth, on teaching: Or he that exhorteth, on exhortation: he that giveth, let him do it with simplicity: he that ruleth, with diligence; he that sheweth mercy, with cheerfulness." God endows every man with a talent. Some men he bestows more talents on than others. But we're all gifted. God gives all those that are members of his body a particular gift to use to edify the body. It's our responsibility to find that God-given talent and use it.
When reading Matthew 25, you read about the parable of the talents and about the three men that he gave talents to. He gave one man five, another two, and the last person, one talent. The first two that he gave talents to they were faithful with them and their talents were increased. The third man took his talent and hid his in the earth. The slothful man's lord came and took his one talent that he hid and gave it to the one that had ten talents. Even though the talents in this portion of scripture was talking about money, you could apply the same principle when it comes to our gifts. The gifts that God has bestowed upon us is a very serious thing and we should recognize it's a privilege to have what God's given us. God doesn't give us a talent to throw away or not use. We're to use it for the glory of God. If it wasn't necessary for our gifts to be used, then God wouldn't have bestowed it unto us.
We should use the talents that God's given to us at home, at church, at the workplace, and even in the community whenever applicable. However, we're to use that talent for God's glory as often as we're able to use it. We should always seek for opportunities to use it. Those Christians that want to use their gifts the Lord will open us doors for them to be used. I know of a preacher that lives near Greenville, South Carolina and he has been learning Spanish and he's involving himself in ministries where he can use it to those that speak Spanish to preach the Gospel to them. God doesn't make mistakes when it comes to the giving of gifts. Some possess the gift to give. There's a businessman in Louisville that gave large sums of money to help build a Christian campground in Corydon, Indiana. There's people in our churches that are gifted to sing, play the instruments, perform construction, and a host of things.
How do you discover your talents? It's not that difficult. Just engage yourself in exploratory activities and find out which activity you're gifted at. The ones where you have a special ability to perform well are those areas where God's gifted you in. Parents should engage their young children at very young ages in exploratory activities to determine their gifts. It's better to discover your gifts when you're young. You'll have a lifetime to use it once you've discovered it. There's people of all ages that discover their gifts. The important thing is to have a willingness to try different things so you can discover your gifts.
Once you've discovered your gift, then you need to work on developing that gift. Distinguish your talents and determine which ones are important to use for God. Determine those gifts that you can use for a lifetime. Some people are very athletic and play sports, but nobody has the physical ability to play sports for a lifetime. However, you can play an instrument for a lifetime. Distinguish your gifts to determine what's good and necessary. Dedicate your talent. Give it to the Lord and determine whatever facet you use that gift it will be for the glory of God. Wherever you use your gift it should be to glorify God. He's the one that's bestowed that gift upon you. It's our responsibility to discover that gift, to develop that gift, and dedicate it to the Lord.
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