Lovewell: A Theology - Day 33

1 Peter 4:10
10 God has given each of you a gift from his great variety of spiritual gifts. Use them well to serve one another.

This text reminds us that we have all been given gifts to steward for God. As servant leaders we are given these gifts in order to be able to serve those who we find ourselves in proximity to. That means, we have to steward these gifts for the good of the kingdom of God.

Stewardship is more than just being about how we take care of the finances in our lives. When we hear the story of the servant who hid his talent, it is a clear indication that we shouldn’t be hiding away these gifts that God has given us. In fact, we need to be using these gifts to the greatest ability for the mission and purpose that God has given to us.

Even Adam and Eve were commissioned to care for the creation and cultivate culture. They were told to take care of the birds of the air, the fish of the sea, and everything else. As well, they were asked to be fruitful. Loving, tending, cultivating, designing, building, growing, and using all God had made in order to glorify him was their job. And, it is ours as well.

The first thing you have to do is;

1. Understand your gifts. So using that which God has entrusted to you to love him and others as yourself does include finances and watching over creation, but it's even more. It also means using your mind and hands and voice to create good things, helping others flourish, and pointing everyone back to God. Many spiritual struggles I’ve seen simply come down to understanding who God is making and molding you to be. It’s searching through your joys, passions, and what people affirm your gifts to be, and then doing something with it!
2. Share your gifts. What good is your gift if you don’t actually share it? Would you leave a Christmas present wrapped and under the tree? If God has blessed you with a talent, then you are encouraged and called to cultivate it and give it away, because a gift is wasted if you just keep it dormant. An unused talent is not much different from not having a talent. God has blessed you with a voice like Pavarotti? Then open up that throat, take that deep breath in and sing for all to hear! Can you play a cello beautifully, serve the poor, or take care of people’s money? Choose to use those gifts and honor God in the process! Maybe you can’t hit a musical note to save your life but you can draw, or build, or bake, or dance!? Whatever you are passionate about, whatever you are good at, whatever brings glory to God and joy to others--you do it. That is stewardship in its absolute basic understanding. 

1. What can you do to understand your talents today? 
2. How can you make sure you are using them for the glory of God and not yourself? 
3. How does a servant leader use their talents to serve others?