Things TO BE Before I Die #10: Be a sacrifice with my life, talents, and gifts.

My TO BE List Countdown

AKA Things TO BE Before I Die

#10: Be a sacrifice with my life, talents, and gifts.

When I think about being a sacrifice, I think about taking all the “it’s all about me” out of my life. Maybe you’re familiar with:

·         I don’t have time for this.

·         I don’t know how to do that.

·         I’d rather not.

·         Or my favorite—I can’t.

Most of us are selfish with our time, talents, and gifts. We don’t look at them as things we can give away, but things we need to keep close. Take talents and gifts, for instance. When was the last time you sat down and listed all the talents and gifts God has given you? I don’t mean physical things like houses, cars, and boats. I’m talking about things you can do better than most people. Gifts like speaking, playing music, creating artwork, or practicing hospitality. When was the last time you used your gifts?

I remember a new couple in our church who sat close to me during Sunday services. The wife’s voice was beautiful, so clear and had perfect pitch. One Sunday I asked her if she ever thought about doing solos or singing in our choir. “Oh, no! I couldn’t do that,” she said. When I asked her why not she said she became too nervous in front of people. I didn’t let up on her. I prayed about it, kept asking her, and eventually she gave in. That Sunday our church heard the most beautiful music from a pure voice that was a gift from God. Saying, “I can’t,” truly limits God’s use of your gifts and talents. If He gave you the voice, He will give you the ability to use it!

You would think at 65  I have learned just about everything there is to know about myself, my gifts and talents; but you’d be wrong. Every single day I’ve learned to open my life up to God’s leading. If He shows me a new gift, talent, or ability that I can use for His Kingdom, then I just stand amazed again and find a way to use it! So many of us are just not thinking about letting God use us for anything! If someone gave you a million dollars, you wouldn’t hide it in your dresser and never use it, would you? No, you’d spend it freely on whatever you needed. That’s what God’s gifts to us are. They are the million dollar gift that is meant to be spent and used up!

Romans 12:6 “Having then gifts differing according to the grace that is given to us, let us use them…” (NKJV)

Stay tuned in the upcoming weeks to see my other top nine Things TO BE Before I Die!