Gifts and talents: what are they and what are they for?

A lot of doubts are generated on the Christian people about the gifts. And, as many are aware of this, there are still many in doubt about this issue.

Of course, there are several Christian lines of thought. Therefore, I will speak throughout this text using biblical passages and avoiding to position myself in line with my opinion, which goes according to the denomination which I fit into the body of Christ.

Gifts and talents

First, we have to understand that there are differences between gifts and talents. A talent is a result of something that already comes in your genetics or from a training on something. A spiritual gift is the result of the power of the Holy Spirit, acting through you. For example, I will not say that playing guitar is a spiritual gift that God has given me. But God gave me a talent or a facility to learn how to play.

What are gifts and talents for?

Before doing anything, in any area of ​​life, I like to seek a purpose for it. Follow me: you can buy a watch, but to what it would be useful if you just leave it stored in a drawer? As the same, you must know the purpose of the gifts and talents that are given to us by God. These gifts that are entrusted to our hands are not toys. Much less possessions that we obtained by some merit or by being superspecial christians. They are tools delivered into our hands for helping in the work of the Kingdom of God.

I Peter 4:10-11 Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others, as faithful stewards of God’s grace in its various forms. (11) If anyone speaks, they should do so as one who speaks the very words of God. If anyone serves, they should do so with the strength God provides, so that in all things God may be praised through Jesus Christ. To him be the glory and the power for ever and ever. Amen.

What are the spiritual gifts quoted in the Holy Bible?

There are three lists of spiritual gifts in the Bible (Rom 12, 1Co 12, and Eph 4:10). In my opinion, the most detailed is that reported by Paul to the Corinthians. That consists of the gifts of:

Message of Wisdom: It is the ability the Holy Spirit gives a person to offer wise counsel based on the Word of God;

Message of knowledge: it is the ability that the Holy Spirit gives a person to have a special knowledge about a situation or someone;

Ability to prophesy: ​​it does not necessarily consist in predicting a future situation, but rather in uttering a special message from the Holy Spirit;

Faith: it does not refer to the habitual faith that every Christian should have in regard to salvation. But it is a supernatural ability given by the Holy Spirit to trust God fully in any situation;

Healing: As the name itself says, it is the ability the Holy Spirit gives to someone to pray for cures;

Miraculous powers: it is the gift that the Holy Spirit gives to someone to show supernatural situations;

Distinguishing between spirits: it is the discernment that the Holy Spirit gives to someone so that he knows when a message comes directly from God or from a deceiver;

Variety of tongues: refers to spiritual language. Which the Spirit gives us for our own edification;

Interpretation of tongues: refers to the ability to understand what different languages ​​mean. The only way to build up the church through prayer in tongues is if there is also an interpreter.

Which are the best talents?

There is no talent better or worse. Someone who plays instruments must do it for the glory of God. Someone who has skills in the fine arts, too. One who has a more advanced motor capacity must also do so for the glory of God. So any ability you have has only one purpose.

Can I get all the gifts?

Yes. Paul makes it clear in 1Co 12:31 that we should seek the best gifts to help in the work of God. But it also makes it clear that a body has many parts. Each has its specific function and should be satisfied in using the tools given by God for the edification of the whole body.

1Co 12:12 Just as a body, though one, has many parts, but all its many parts form one body, so it is with Christ. (13) For we were all baptized by one Spirit so as to form one body—whether Jews or Gentiles, slave or free—and we were all given the one Spirit to drink. (14) Even so the body is not made up of one part but of many.

Therefore, as the apostle Paul himself said: seek the best gifts. But never forget that they serve to manifest the love of Jesus Christ to others and to help in the Kingdom of God!

May the grace and peace of Jesus Christ be with all the brothers and sisters at all times and be manifested through the best gifts, forever and ever! Amen!