I have heard stories of how newly wedded couples received gifts from friends and family members during and after their wedding events and when some of these gifts were unwrapped afterwards, charms were found. These charms were deliberately hidden in the gifts to cause havoc in the lives of the couples. This implies that some people give bad gifts to the detriment of the receiver. The best news is that God gives us good and perfect gifts. Aside from the precious gift of Jesus Christ, God deposits great potentials and abilities in us as gifts to help us fulfill our purpose on earth.
“Every good gift and every perfect (free, large, full) gift is from above; it comes down from the Father of all [that gives] light, in [the shining of] Whom there can be no variation [rising or setting] or shadow cast by His turning [as in an eclipse].” (James 1:17)
Types of Gifts
A person who is gifted has a natural and supernatural ability for doing most things or for doing a particular activity. A gifted person has above-average general intellectual ability, the ability to find and solve difficult and unusual problems, process and learn information quickly as well as the ability to see connections, relationships, and multiple perspectives. A person can have both natural gifts and spiritual gifts. Natural gifts manifest as these qualities: perfectionist, helper, achiever, individualist, observer, loyal skeptic, enthusiast, challenger, peacemaker (The Essential Enneagram – David Daniels). God also gives spiritual gifts to His children including all the gifts of the Holy Spirit (See 1st Corinthians 12:8-10).
Gifts are Valuable
A man’s gift maketh room for him, and bringeth him before great men. (Proverbs 18:16)
God has put a gift in us that will make a way for us in life and enable us to fulfill our visions. It is in exercising this gift that we will find real fulfillment, purpose, and contentment in the work or activities we do. Dr. Myles Munroe of blessed memory said, “If you are intelligent but are not exercising your gift, you’re probably going to be poor. If you’re educated but have not developed your gift, you’re likely going to be depressed, frustrated, and tired.” Therefore, it is important to identify and exercise our gifts. When you exercise your gift, not only will the world make room for you, but it will also pay you for it. When we discover and develop our gifts, they will become a commodity.
Developing Your Gifts
To grow and develop in our God-given gifts, we can apply the five Es – Exposure, Education, Environment, Experience, and Evaluation.
E – expose yourself to people who have experience and abilities in the areas in which you wish to grow.
E – educate yourself by learning from others and reading books on areas you want to develop.
E – environment where you can learn without fear of failure is key.
E – experience what you have been exposed to by trying it out yourself.
E – evaluation in the form of honest and constructive feedback from people you trust.
In addition, for spiritual gifts, it is important that you develop them by praying without ceasing with understanding and in the Holy Ghost as well as making a daily date with your Bible.
God is the source of our gifts including the gift of life and it is important to have a relationship with Him. He is the One Who can make you valuable. If you are yet to have a relationship with God, say this prayer of salvation: Dear Jesus Christ, come into my heart. I believe that You came, died and rose again to save me. I confess that You are my personal Lord and Savior and I declare that I am born again. I receive and express every gift God has for me. Amen!
By Sunday Omori
HEM Int'l 