Discovering You Gifts

by E.E. Perry
Published November 17, 2006

God has also given each of us different gifts to use. (Romans 12:6)

What are you good at? Do you have any idea? Wouldn't you like to know? In Romans 12, Paul tells us that each Christian has been given special gifts. The Greek word Paul uses for gifts is Charisma. Yes, you're right, our English word charisma come from this Greek word. When we think of charisma, we think of a person with a charming personality who moves the people into action. However, even in the English, there are other less popular definitions. Dictionary.com gives “a divinely conferred gift or power” as one of its definitions. A literal rendering from the Greek could read “grace-gifts.” W. E. Vine defined it as “His [God's] free endowments upon believers by the operation of the Holy Spirit in the churches.” (Vine's Expository Dictionary of Old & New Testament Words)

So, what is your charisma (your grace-gifts)? Don't know? God has endowed you with certain abilities for you to use in your service to Him. There is a certain freedom and joy in knowing your gifts and using them in service to God and His Kingdom. There are three steps to serving God through your charisma:

1. Learn what it is.
A gift is useless if it sits on a table unwrapped. We may look at the package and wonder what is inside, but we can never know for sure until we open it. There are several online resources for discovering your gifts. One is at churchgrowth.org. Click on the button for the Free Spiritual Gifts Analysis. There are several more. You can Google spiritual gifts analysis to discover more online. If you don't have Internet access, I have a hard copy analysis, and I would gladly make you a copy.

2. Develop your gifts.
Yes, I wrote gifts. You will most likely have more than one. There are many ways to develop your gifts. You can read books about your gifts, attend seminars, etc. The best development tool is step 3.

3. Use your gifts.
If a gift is unwrapped but stays in the box, it still isn't much use. You must take it out and use it. Ask the staff of the church, your Sunday School teacher, your pastor, your Christian friends about opportunities where you can use your gifts. Look for ways to use your gifts for the glory of God and His Kingdom.

What is your charisma? How has God gifted you? Are you using your gift for God's Kingdom? Begin the journey today. You never know how much God can bless you and others through you until you do.

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