What to Do with What You’re Given by Rick Warren
“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).
Do you know what God created you for? Do you know what your destiny is?
Fulfilling your destiny requires recognizing the unique way God has created you. This includes the things you can’t control, such as your parents, your nationality, your race, your native language. It also includes your SHAPE: your Spiritual gifts, Heart, Abilities, Personality, and Experiences. All of these things make you uniquely you.
You are only responsible for the gifts God gives you. So, if you aren’t artistically gifted, you are not expected to paint pictures like Rembrandt.
When you get to heaven, God isn’t going to compare you with anyone else, but he will compare you with yourself. What did you do with what you were given? Romans 14:12 says, “Each of us will give an account of ourselves to God” (NIV).
In the Old Testament, Esther used three God-given assets to fulfill her destiny. She was intelligent, beautiful, and had an attractive 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).
Just as God gave Esther gifts for a purpose, God has given you gifts for a purpose. And just like Esther, you have a responsibility to be a good steward of those gifts—not in selfish ways but for the good of others. A key to living a productive and fulfilling life is using your gifts to serve God by serving others.
PLAY today’s audio teaching from Pastor Rick
Talk It Over
In order to know your destiny, you have to know your talents and decide how to use them. Make a list of the gifts God has given you—including your SHAPE and the life factors you can’t control, such as your family, your nationality, and so on. Ask yourself, “What has God given me for good to use for good?”
How can you help others discover their SHAPE and purpose?
What are some practical ways you can get out of the rut of comparing yourself to others?
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