In Church at TWCC, on Sundays, if you’ve been with us, we’ve been sharing quite a bit about being a wise and faithful steward of our time, our talent and our treasure. Of course, we’ve been emphasizing the treasure (money) side of our stewardship responsibilities in our “It’s Harvest Time!” Series. However, today I want encourage you about your TALENT, your God-given giftedness, abilities and graces the Lord has deposited inside of you. Do you know the gifts God has inside of you? Have you discovered them?

​​​​​​​At one point or another, we’ve all likely wondered what our gifts and talents are. We’ve wondered how our wiring, our quirks and our abilities could make a difference in this world. Or, maybe you have an idea of what a few of your giftings are but you’re feeling a bit “stuck” or frustrated, wondering why you’re not having opportunities to use those talents. Today I want to share with you the secret of what to do in either case…HELP! Specifically, plug in and help in your local church! You see, when you help…God will order your steps and you’ll start to see more and more clearly what your unique “lane” is. You may feel like greeting, directing traffic, mopping floors, cleaning the bathrooms, starting coffee pots, or whatever helping role you’re volunteering in, is insignificant…but that couldn’t be further from the truth! Let’s check out 1 Corinthians 12:28: “And God has appointed these in the church: first apostles, second prophets, third teachers, after that miracles, then gifts of healings, helps, administrations, varieties of tongues” (NKJV). We see in that verse that there is a ministry of “helps” — and as a quick aside, even if God has called you to another one of the ministry areas listed in that verse, almost every single time the path still begins with the ministry of helps. For many, the ministry of helps IS the calling. Partners, we must see ourselves as “called” by God into the ministry – the ministry of helps as Christian believers and Christ-followers. >>Are you catching this? “Helps” is ministry! And it makes a world of difference in the lives of others! Helping at your local church provides fertile ground for the Lord to cultivate your gift and to make a way for you to use it to help more and more people. Is helping glamorous? The truth is not usually. Is helping always going to be in your preferred area of interest? Not always, especially as you start out. But will God honor your willing heart and helping hands, and in due season use your serving to reveal to you specific gifts and talents He has put inside you? YES! Here’s a promise to stand on…read with me in Proverbs 18:16: “A man’s gift makes room for him, and brings him before great men” (NKJV). As you continue to faithfully serve, your gift will become more clear and visible, both to you and to others. For example, you may feel like you have a teaching gift but wonder why you’ve been asked to serve in Children’s / Kids’ Ministry. I encourage you today, do so with excellence and a willing heart! Serve those precious kids to the best of your ability. Use your teaching gift to teach and train them. Nurture and hone that skill, be faithful to what God’s asking you to do in that season, and at the right time He will make a way for you to use those gifts in new ways. You don’t have to strive, fret or worry…trust the Lord to do what only He can do which is to reveal your special gifts and talents as you serve faithfully and whole-heartedly in your local church. Everything you invest into growing His church is time well-spent…it’s an ETERNAL investment by helping others…and He will make sure your gifts make a way for you! Pray and Say This Out Loud: “Father, thank You that You’ve given me gifts and talents. I choose to help serve in my local church and trust that as I serve faithfully, You’ll make my gifts and talents more visible to me and to others. Thank You that I can participate in the ministry of ‘helps’ and make an eternal impact in the lives of others. I settle it in my heart reverently and humbly before You that I am saved to serve. I am called by God into the ministry. I answer the call to help! I thank You Father that You will help me use my gifts to serve, bless and benefit others; and I will use my gifts build up the Church. In Jesus’ Name. Amen.”