Gifts & Talents: A Pathway to Glorifying God

By: Lila Lowery

10 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." (1 Peter 4:10-11)

Everyone has talents. Sometimes it is obvious, if you are a star on the lacrosse field or ace every math test. But sometimes, your talents aren’t a certain skill. They are your characteristics. Your kindness, humour, outgoingness, et cetera. Whatever your gifts and talents may be, you can use them to serve God. 

Personally, I have had a clear talent since I was a child: singing. My mom likes to say that I’ve been singing since the day I was born, but I never really thought I was talented until third grade, when I got the lead in the school musical about St. Rose Philippine Duchesne. Ever since, I have pursued music by taking voice lessons, being in choir, and signing up for all of the school musicals. Singing is a big part of who I am as a person, my identity. I believe it’s my passion, and I feel the happiest when I sing. This is how I know it is a gift from God. The feeling of pure joy and purpose I get when I sing is just so good, it has to come from God. It is no coincidence that I got that part in third grade. I believe it was the Lord opening a door to an integral part of my life, and an important way to serve Him. 

To be honest, I do love to be complimented and acknowledged for my voice. I love to hear the applause after the song ends, but, I have to remind myself not all of that is for me. Who gave me the talent to sing, the courage to get on a stage? God did. I would be nowhere without Him, so every piece of praise I get, all goes to the Lord in my eyes. Our talents are not supposed to be for us alone. God gave them to us, so we should use them to honor and praise Him. As Peter says, “Use whatever gift you have received to serve others, as faithful stewards of God’s grace”. 

How I do this is singing at Mass, leading the congregation in worship. But there are so many other ways to glorify God as well, including serving God’s children around you. Treating others with the kindness that God put in your heart. Helping someone with their homework in a subject you are gifted in. And even if no one else knows, you can glorify God within your own heart. If you played your best field hockey game yet, acknowledge that your strength came from God. If you created a beautiful painting, remind yourself who gave you your creativity. And then thank Him. God loves each of His children incredibly much. He loves to see us carry out our own unique gifts and talents, and He especially loves it when we use them to bring Him glory. 

God also calls us to show God’s grace with our talents. So we give thanks to Him ourselves, and then we show others what God has done for us and what He can do for them. When we contribute our talents as praise and use them to portray the grace of God, we join in the universal praise of Christ. One of my favorite Christian songs is “So Will I” by Hillsong United, and the lyrics, “For if everything exists to lift You high, so will I”. All of nature and space is praising the Lord, so we should too. It is what we are meant to do. And we can do it through our God given gifts. 

So what are you passionate about? What brings you total happiness and makes you feel purposeful? It could be anything in life, but whatever it is, Christ wants to multiply it and make it more meaningful. You might think that your talent isn’t worth all of that, and it isn’t that important But trust me. Jesus can do unimaginable things with just a seed of faith. So, have faith in Him, and have faith that your gifts are from God and that you can use them for a greater purpose.