Reminders: Developing Our Spiritual Gifts
by Ardith Hoff
It’s easy to confuse gifts and talents. They are often lumped together. Talents are innate abilities such as natural aptitudes passed down and nurtured in families for such things as math, music, mechanics, etc., while gifts are from God, and are by definition “spiritual” because they are transmitted to us by the Holy Spirit once we accept Jesus as our savior. The two sometimes work in tandem when, for example, a talented teacher is also able to use his or her teaching ability to reach people for Christ.
Spiritual growth (the recognition, development and practice of our gifts) is essential to becoming a mature Christian. But how does one recognize the gifts God has bestowed upon us? How do we know the plans He has for us? How do we know if we are living up to our full God-given potential?
Many young people go to college with big plans of becoming something specific. They may have talked with their high-school guidance counselor about potential trades or professions they could go into. They may have taken some tests to determine their aptitudes. Yet research shows that 75% of college students change their major at least once before graduation. Some start taking the courses in a particular field of study and realize that the path they have chosen is not for them. In some cases, it might be a lack of maturity and discipline that detours them. Other times they might realize that they don’t have the natural ability and desire to complete the required courses. It sometimes takes a while for them to get it right.
The same can be true of people who start down a particular spiritual path and realize that they are not able to use God’s gifts effectively. Just as students must ask God’s help to find the right vocation and complete a course of study, we also need to ask His guidance and open ourselves to development (study and practice) in order to fulfill our spiritual potential. By prayer, hard work and trial and error, we can find our appropriate roles in God’s plans. “Now there are varieties of gifts, but the same Spirit. And there are varieties of ministries, and the same Lord. There are varieties of effects, but the same God who works all things in all persons.” 1 Corinthians 12:4-11