Natural talents verses God given

Everything of from God. Whether one is saved or not, a natural talent is a gift from God.

 

AMEN SCARLETT!!!! MY WORDS EXACTLY!

 

What's funny about talents is that you often don't recognize your own because whatever it is seems so natural to you that it doesn't seem special at all. You can't understand why it doesn't come as easily to everyone else, that's all!

I think many times this is the case with folk who don't think they have a special talent -- whatever it is is so much a part of them that they don't recognize it as a special gift.

I am reminded, actually, of the Abba song "Thank you for the music" which contains the lines (something like...my memory's not good here)
"Mama said I was a dancer before I could walk;
she said I knew how to sing long before I could talk..."

THAT's talent, the gift. It's a part of you.

If you don't know what your talent is or talents are, just look at what it is that you can't understand others can't do easily, too, and that should be it.

 

But I still believe that there are some christians who don't want to acknowledge God's working in their lives, because that requires too much commitment and accountability on their part.

I'm laughing. You may be right, but they won't be in that position for long if they are truly Christians. God doesn't leave anyone 'half-baked' and they will be disciplined and be transformed into the likeness of Christ one way or another!

 

Ther is a difference between talents (natural abilities) and spiritual gifts. (unnatural abilities) the difference is this..

With a talent, like singing or playing a piano, it can be improved upon.

With a Spiritual gift, like the gift of evangelism, it is from the Holy Spirit, and you either have it or you don't.

But both natural abilities and gifts come from God, and we should use them to glorify him, and edify the church.

 

I agree completely, tim.

Nothing annoys me more than to hear someone say that someone is really gifted, as a singer for example, when that person has studied and practiced for years to develope their "gift."

MR

 

Evangelism can be improved as well. Given the person doing the evangelizing is truly willing to let the Spirit guide him.

For instance, a person feels they would love to share Christ through evangelism. But they only want to preach Salvation. Now salvation is a wonderful message, don't get me wrong, but some people won't come to Christ without hearing more than the Roman's Road. Some need to hear of the sin of the Amalekites and how sin was brought into the camp. Some need to hear stories such as that of Eutychus, who fell out of a window while listening to the minister with their eyes and heart on the things of the world.

Many think just because they are a member of a church, or that they got baptized, they are saved. These need to hear the gospel if they are relying only on baptism or church membership.

Some evangelist's do not preach the full counsel of God until they allow the Holy Spirit to take control and to guide them.

 

SFIC, It is everyone's resonsibility to evangelize, but not everyone has the gift.

Someone with the gift has a supernatural ability to walk up to some one and witness to them... and see positive results. They have the supernatural confidence to do this, they are gifted, truly gifted..

Now what i have experienced is about 10 % of the church is gifted in evangelism..

Some churches I have been a part of have so overemphasized evangelism that they would make people feel guilty if they didn't show up for "Tuesday evening door knocking"

The church should use the gifts they have. The ones gifted in evangelism should be the ones going out in organized witnessing. Others should also use their gifts as well but not be made to feel ashamed for not being good evangelists.

There is more to church than witnessing.. too many churches forget about discipleship... they have a Hyles mentality... all about numbers, but no substance.

BTW, you don't have to be a preacher to have a gift of evangelism.. I truly believe my middle son has it. He has never known a stranger, and is very effective in witnessing.

 

Good question donnA, and one that is not asked enough these days. You're absolutely right. God will allow no natural talent to glory in His presence. 1 Cor. 1:29

That's why not many wise men after the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble, are called. It is in our weaknesses that Christ's strength is made perfect.

Now Johnv said that all things come from God. That's true, but not all things are sanctified.

 

Spoken like a Calvinist!

 

No, Aaron, and I resent that. I consider Calvinism to be anti-biblical and you know that. I was in direct reference to Phil. 1:6 and Romans 8:28-30.

 

aaron God has given us any abilities we have, and we should use them to glorify God.

We cannot pigeonhole our lives and say, "well I am good at that, but since that is not a spiritual gift, I cannot use it to glorify God."

That is just ridiculous.. If a person has the ability to play the piano they should do it for the Glory of God, If they can sing, they should do it for God.. If they are a word smith they should do it for the glory of God, If they can play the drums, they should do it for the glory of God, If a person can drive, yep, you got it... for the glory of God..

 

Amen & Double Amen!
It's all about His glory!
On a daily basis!

In Christ,
Word Walker

 

Natural talents versus God given.

All talents are indeed given by God.
I think the answer to your question, Donna, lies in the motivation of the talented.

In other words, do you execute your tallent for the glory of God, or some worldly motivation, such as money or popularity.

In Christ,
Word Walker

 

Well, you say, "If a person can drive..." but do you really mean it? What about eating? Would you consider someone who's good at eating talented? That is to be done to the glory of God as well, 1 Cor. 10:31.

When someone is described as talented or gifted, it's usually in reference to some presentational or performance skill. In short, exhibitionism, examples of which led and dominated your list. Had you gone further, I doubt that eating and drinking would have even placed.

You're forgetting one important, universal, non-optional principle, and that is that God has chosen the weak things of the world. In other words, those things to which the world is indifferent, much less considers an advantage, is what God uses. Why? Because no flesh will glory in His presence.

Yes, we're to do all things to the glory of God, but the question remains, what glorifies God? In the case of eating and drinking, God is glorified by restraint. What glorifies Him in music? Is music even what we call a "talent"? Those who've taken a good, hard look at it question the very concept.

http://www.musica.uci.edu/mrn/V8I2S01.html#talent