By Sarah Paschall
Synopsis: God gives us unique talents; how can we use them for His work?
Have you ever wondered how our bodies function? How does each distinct part work together to survive, accomplish tasks, and thrive?
God gave us eyes to see the infinitely vast and beautiful world He created for us. Our ears can hear the call of the birds or listen to the voices of our loved ones. We can taste and smell the comforts of a home-cooked meal. A hard day’s work with our hands leaves us feeling tired and fulfilled when we go to bed at night. Each part of our bodies, while entirely different, still works together with the rest, allowing us to experience the wonders of life.
Just as each part of our body is unique, so too is every person. We live in a world full of diversity, and each of us is incredibly different. There are things that only I can do, and there are things that only you can do. This fact of life shapes the way we think and live. From infancy, we learn that we are different from each other, and as we continue to mature, these differences become more evident in our individual personalities, interests, and skills.
Through Jesus’s ministry, the gospel was shared with thousands of people. In Acts 2, we find that on the day of Pentecost alone, “there were added that day about three thousand souls” (Acts 2:41). As time went on, the converts multiplied (Acts 4:4; 5:14).
Christ’s church spans time, geography, cultures, languages, and traditions. Every person who has obeyed the gospel differs from every other before and after them. So how is it even possible that so many people with unique talents and abilities can work together and thrive? In this study, let us answer this question by looking at 1 Corinthians 12.
Now concerning spiritual gifts, brethren, I do not want you to be ignorant (1 Cor. 12:1).
Beginning in 1 Corinthians 12, Paul seeks to explain to the group in Corinth how they ought to use their talents and abilities to serve their congregation. He references several miraculous gifts in verses 8-10, and later in verse 28, he mentions teachers, apostles, and service. These “gifts” that he mentions include both miraculous and non-miraculous abilities. So, for the sake of this study, we will use the term “talents” in reference to spiritual gifts.
Merriam-Webster defines talent as a characteristic feature, aptitude, or disposition of a person. Our talents are what we do best and most enjoy. They are the unique abilities that we possess that only we can do, or that we do best, and each one comes from God.
There are diversities of gifts, but the same Spirit. There are differences of ministries, but the same Lord. And there are diversities of activities, but it is the same God who works all in all” (1 Cor. 12:4-6).
In my personal life, I have struggled to accept that I am different from everyone else. It is incredibly easy to say, “Because I don’t have that talent, I can’t help.” This habit of comparing my talents with others is incredibly destructive because it handicaps my ability to see what I do well, and hyper-focuses on what I do not do so well. Thankfully, this challenge is directly addressed by Paul.
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? (1 Cor. 12:15-19).
It turns out that God gave us each unique talents for a reason. If I am continually telling myself “I can’t!” because I don’t have someone else’s gifts, I miss the point entirely. God made me the way he did because I have a task to fulfill and a service to offer that no one else can do.
So not only do I have talents that can be used in service to the kingdom, but I also have a responsibility to use them for the kingdom.
A fantastic example of this is in Matthew 25:14-30. In the parable of the talents, a master goes on a long journey and provides three of his servants with different amounts of money. Over the course of his trip, two servants use their money to earn more, while the third buries his money in the ground. When the master returns, he condemns the servant who buried the money and rewards those who used it in service to him. Interestingly, the word for the type of money used was “talent,” which carries a not-so-subtle message for me when considering how I ought to use my talents.
Christ gave me talents that He intends for me to use until His return. If I hide them, I am not only keeping my talents from growing, but I am also robbing Christ of my full devotion, and the church of the services only I can provide. So, the message of 1 Corinthians 12:7 becomes abundantly clear when we take into consideration the parable of the talents.
Paul said, “But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to each one for the profit of all.” God gave me my talents so I can use them to serve those around me. God made me exactly as He intended, and I have a responsibility to use my unique gifts for the benefit of the body as a whole!
At the beginning of this study, we observed how incredibly complex the body is. Each part is unique and has different purposes, but still works together to perform the function of the body as a whole. We asked, “How can so many different people be able to work together and thrive?” We now have the answer. It is called interdependence.
But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to each one for the profit of all (1 Cor. 12:7).
Interdependence is the mutual act of serving each other for the benefit of the group. When every one of us is actively using our unique abilities to serve the church as a whole, something remarkable happens. Those differences that make us weak, or inefficient on our own, are filled by the strengths of those around us. My strengths compensate for the weaknesses of others, and their strengths compensate for my weaknesses.
It’s like a zipper. A jacket does not work efficiently when it is not zipped up. Yet, when you zip it up, each piece of the zipper interlocks, creating a unified whole.
So, what are my talents? What am I good at?
For me, it’s computers. I love problem-solving with technology, and I love designing websites. God has blessed me with the opportunity of being able to assist with the live stream for our services, and I have also been able to design a website for our congregation and a neighboring group as well.
For you, it may be something different. There are fantastic teachers in our group. There are also listeners, singers, encouragers, leaders, and so many more. God needs everybody’s talents.
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? (1 Cor. 12:18-19).
It doesn’t matter what my talents are, God can use me for His kingdom!
