All who are skilled among you are to come and make everything the LORD has commanded. (Exodus 35:10 NIV)

I received a gift this week from a local artisan. I was looking for a functional and elegant communion goblet; something nice that also said “New Mexico” with a hint of Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade. The cottonwood goblet that he made was absolutely perfect. Upon seeing it, it became quite obvious to me that this person had a gift that many of us do not have. His love of wood and artistic hand are truly gifts and talents given by God. What really stood out to me though, was that he chose to use his gift to bless another. I had to ask myself why it is that we don’t all use our gifts and talents to bless others?

Each one should use whatever gift he has received to serve others, faithfully administering God’s grace in its various forms. (1 Peter 4:10 NIV)

Every person has gifts and graces that can be used to serve others. No one can honestly claim that they are devoid of this ability. The scriptures encourage us to recognize these gifts, and then use them to serve others. Even more, this is a means by which God has chosen to have His grace administered into the world. In other words, God’s life-giving grace is brought to people, every day, by those who have chosen to serve with the gifts that they have. The lack of talent is not what keeps us from serving others, it is a lack of desire or of imagination.

You have gifts. What are they? Do you understand a certain field of academics better than most? Then perhaps you could use your talents to tutor and encourage the next generation. Do you like to talk? Then perhaps you could spend some time simply visiting someone who desires fellowship. Do you build? My dear friend Father Theophan recently built an outdoor food pantry that is accessible to the public.

Our ability to administer God’s grace by serving others is limited only by our imagination and desire to do so. Incidentally you might have a gift of imagination or passion that can be used to address even that need.

The world is in dire need of God’s grace. He has chosen to use us to be administrators of that grace. Your talents have the potential to bring light into the lives of people around you. Your talents have the ability to feed, clothe, encourage, and show love to your neighbor. This is how we become the hands and feet of Jesus into the world. What this also requires, however, is that we are in touch with what our world needs.

Do you see the need outside your home? Do you see the need within your home? Your gifts and graces may be best discovered by simply knowing the needs around you. There is no substitute for personal engagement with others to learn what is really needed. You might be surprised at what needs are immediately before you. You might also be surprised to find that you have had talents all along to serve those needs. Be encouraged; this is a good thing!

Get to know your family, your neighbors, and your community. Allow God to help you love them as He does so that your desire is for their well-being. Know them intimately enough that you can recognize their need even without being told; and then use your talents to serve them in love. In doing this, you will administer God’s grace.

So, how are you using your talents to serve others? What needs has God placed before you that you know you are to fill? Look around you, your community needs you and you so have the gifts necessary to serve them.

A special thanks to Phillip Weaver for using his gifts and graces, not only to create something so beautiful, but to remind me that every talent should be used to serve others. 

If you have a Biblical question, comment, or concern, please feel free to email me at raul@lavistanaz.org.

To find out more about La Vista Church, or to hear this and other messages, visit our website at www.lavistanaz.org. Follow Pastor Raul on Twitter @RaulGranillo007