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It took me many years to recognize my gifting. Neither my parents nor I had acknowledged the signs of “teacher” in my childhood. Looking back, I see that these signs had their beginnings when I was four, after I begged to attend pre-school. I loved school, but I was disappointed that we didn't learn any math the first day. At home, I would play school, my dad being the only pupil.
The summer I was twelve, my brother and I loved our outdoor art lessons. At home, I would gather the neighbourhood children, and enthusiastically teach them the lesson we had painted that day.
Happily studying French in university, I never even considered teaching as a career. When I earned a bachelor's degree, however, another year in the field of education would qualify me to become a teacher, so I did that. When I began teaching, I thought I had merely launched my career path by default, not having seen another alternative. I didn't recognize the hand of God in my life at the time.
“In his grace, God has given us different gifts for doing certain things well.” (Romans 12:6 NLT)
God planned motivational gifts in line with the way He created us. He planned our personalities and our inclinations. Even though we think our gifts were just passed down from our parents or previous generations, it is God who intended them before our conception. How we perceive life, and what motivates our actions reflects in our gifts. These are some of the helpful ideas I gained from reading Discover Your God-Given Gifts, by Don & Katie Fortune. (1987):
“A spiritual gift is given to each of us so that we can help each other.” (I Corinthians 12:7 NLT)
When we say “Yes” to Jesus and start following Him, He uses our specially fashioned inclinations for His glory and to benefit others. Teaching in a regular school transforms into teaching Sunday School, or leading a Bible study. That's the whole point. Our gifts are not for us alone, but to build up and encourage the body of Christ. In I Corinthians, Paul compares the body of Christ to a human body. “All of you together are Christ's body, and each of you is a part of it.” (I Corinthians 12:27 NLT)
All of us in Christ's body have different gifts, and yes, we all have a gift.
“In his grace, God has given us different gifts for doing certain things well. So if God has given you the ability to prophesy, speak out with as much faith as God has given you.If your gift is serving others, serve them well. If you are a teacher, teach well.If your gift is to encourage others, be encouraging. If it is giving, give generously. If God has given you leadership ability, take the responsibility seriously. And if you have a gift for showing kindness to others, do it gladly.”(Romans 12:6-8 NLT)
God's plan is that we function together as one cohesive whole, everyone functioning in the way He intended.
Whatever your gift is, use it joyfully to serve others.
Thank You, Father, for planning out our personalities in such a way as to please You and to influence others. Help us not to neglect our gifts, but to use them for Your glory. In Jesus' name we pray. Amen.
Alice Burnett,
Red Deer, Alberta, Canada
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