God determines our purpose and has a plan for our life prior to our birth. He gives us temperaments that develop our talents and He gives us spiritual gifts through the Holy Spirit to fulfill that purpose if we accept Christ as Savior. Have you squandered your gifts and talents? You may not recognize them but they are available and we all have them.

Have you ever met people with little education or skills or well-educated individuals who seem to have extra-ordinary talents but wasted them because something happened in their past that defeated them? Gifts and talents require one to be accountable and responsible. Why would anyone want to live their life never using what God placed in them? Too many seem to have no purpose, sense of direction and few, if any, goals. They just get up every day and exist. This is not what God made them to be. How can they feel productive in life if they are not using their gifts or talents?

With our talents we have certain instincts for doing different things. Maybe the first 20 years of life you had absolutely no idea what your talents or gifts were. We were given by God temperaments such as: some people our perfectionists, others are good at communicating, some our born leaders and some are planers and organizers. A talent is a special ability. A perfectionist can become good at solving problems. They usually do well in engineering or as scientists. An outgoing person’s talent can be in communicating by working in sales or performing. If you take a survey you will discover than many people do not enjoy their jobs. Why? Their gifts and talents are for a different type of career.

I speak from experience, as an average individual, that what I have done most everyone could do or even much better. My greatest life-time decision was accepting Christ and believing the promises of the Bible. I can do all things through Christ who gives me strength.

Colossians 3:22 – 23 – “Slaves, obey your earthly masters in everything; and do it, not only when their eye is on you and to curry their favor, but with sincerity of heart and reverence for the Lord. Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters,”

God opened doors for me to find my gifts and talents. I was an athletic director and high school coach, a production foreman for a food processing company during the summers, a store manager for a large retail chain and have been a financial advisor for the past 27 years owning by business. I have worked with thousands of people. I have taught Bible classes for over 35 years and have done a lot of writing from Scripture. I think my greatest talents were common sense and wisdom. I wasn’t always trying to invent a new wheel but doing the basics of any job. I approached each job working with all my heart for the Lord and trying to be a Christian witness for Him. I am pleased with what God allowed me to learn and do.

Ephesians 4:11 – 12 – “So Christ himself gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the pastors and teachers, to equip his people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up.”

Romans 12:4 – 8 – “For just as each of us has one body with many members, and these members do not all have the same function, so in Christ we, though many, form one body, and each member belongs to all the others. We have different gifts, according to the grace given to each of us. If your gift is prophesying, then prophesy in accordance with your faith; if it is serving, then serve; if it is teaching, then teach; if it is to encourage, then give encouragement; if it is giving, then give generously; if it is to lead, do it diligently; if it is to show mercy, do it cheerfully.”

My basic spiritual gifts are faith, serving, teaching, leading and giving. Following is what I learned what was necessary to improve one’s life:
1. Determine what your spiritual gifts and talents are. Discover your temperament this will help you know what your talents are. Goggle – (temperament test) – The Bible should help you with your spiritual goals.
2. Set goals! What do you want out of life? Plan your future. Goals provide the motivation for achieving that which you want your life to be.
3. Prepare by educating yourself in how you will accomplish each goal.
4. If you know your talents and gifts you can develop a passion and the motivation to work on your life’s purpose and plan. We were made to be achievers.
5. When faced with negative confrontations, be persistent and never give up.
6. Continually pray thanking God for results and soliciting the Holy Spirit for guidance and direction.
7. The Bible will give you the knowledge to deal with life’s problems so that you can have the peace and rest God promises.

From experience, if you are doing God’s plan and purpose you will really enjoy life. You will feel you have been successful and have achieved that which God planned for your life. You will never feel completely fulfilled. We could always have done better; however, life needs to have a balance and it is not all about work. Our rewards will be based on our love, faith and grace.