We were created, saved, called and commanded to serve God. And we need to serve joyfully and with gratitude for what he's done for us. Anytime we use the abilities God gave us we are serving him.
God has created us for a life of good deeds, which he has already prepared for us to do.
Ephesians 2:10
Because of God's great mercy...Offer yourselves as a living sacrifice to God, dedicated to his service.
Romans 12:1
Your attitude must be like my own, for I, the Messiah, did not come to be served, but to serve and to give my life.
Matthew 20:28
If you aren't serving, you are only existing. God wants us to learn to love and serve others unselfishly. The Bible says that we will each have to give an account of where are time and energy was spent.
What's your excuse?
Abraham was old, Jacob was insecure, Leah was unattractive, Joseph was abused, Moses stuttered, Gideon was poor, Samson was codependent, Rahab was immoral, David had an affair and all kinds of family problems, Elijah was suicidal, Jeremiah was depressed, Jonah was reluctant, Naomi was a widow, John the Baptist was eccentric to say the least, Peter was impulsive and hot-tempered, Martha worried a lot, the Samaritan woman had several failed marriages, Zacchaeus was unpopular, Thomas had doubts, Paul had poor health, and Timothy was timid. (pg. 223 - Purpose Driven Life)
If God can use all these people...he can use you too!!!
God provided you with the tools you need to serve him. God never wastes anything. He would not give you abilities, interests, talents, gifts, personality, and life experiences unless he intended to use them for his glory.
We have been given all we need to discover our purpose:
1) Our Spiritual Gifts - Every believer has been given special God-empowered abilities for serving him. We can not earn these gifts nor choose them. These were given not for our benefit but for the benefit of others.
Whoever does not have the Spirit cannot receive the gifts that come from God's Spirit.
1 Corinthians 2:14
A Spiritual gift is given to each of us as a means of helping the entire church.
1 Corinthians 12:7
2) Our Heart - This is our desires, hopes, interests, ambitions, dreams, and affections. What we love to do and care about most. Our hearts reveal the real people we are. It determines why you say the things you say, feel the way you do, and act the way you do. When we are serving God from our heart we should feel enthusiasm and be effective.
As a face is reflected in water, so the heart reflects the person.
Proverbs 27:19
4) Our Abilities - These are the natural talents that we were born with. All our abilities come from God and can be used for God's glory. The things we are able to do are the things God wants us to do.
May the God of peace...equip you with everything good for doing his will, and may he work in us what is pleasing to him,...
Hebrews 13:20-21
5) Our Personality - Our personality will affect how and where we use our gifts and abilities.
6) Our Experiences - We are shaped by the experiences that we go through with our family, education, vocation, spirituality, ministry and pain. Pain is the experience that God often uses the most to prepare us for ministry. Often out of our greatest pain will come our greatest ministry.
He comforts us in all our troubles so that we can comfort others. When others are troubled, we will be able to give them the same comfort God has given us.
2 Corinthians 1:4
So now we need to discover what God intends for us to be and do. We need to begin by assessing our gifts and abilities by experimenting with different areas of service. Just start serving, you will eventually find out what you are good at. Then consider your heart and personality. Finally, examine the experiences you have been through and what you have learned from them.
Once we discover who we are and what we were designed to do we need to accept that this is who we are and recognize our limitations. No one is good at everything or called to be everything. God wants us to enjoy being who he has made us. Satan will try to steal our joy by tempting us to compare our ministry with others and conform our ministry to the expectations of others.
What right have you, a human being, to cross-examine God? The pot has no right to say to the potter: 'Why did you make me this shape?' Surely a potter can do what he likes with the clay!
Romans 9:20-21
Be sure to do what you should, for then you will enjoy the personal satisfaction of having done your work well, and you won't need to compare yourself to anyone else.
Galatians 6:4
If we use our abilities and skills, God promises to increase them. But if we don't use them, then we will lose them.
Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a workman who does not need to be ashamed and who correctly handles the word of truth.
2 Timothy 2:15
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