This year has been a year of gift-giving: two graduations in spring, one from high school and one from college; a baby in summer, a wedding in fall, and multiple birthdays in between. This past weekend, my sister and I drove to Madison, Wisconsin, for my grandson’s wedding. My granddaughter, Kari, coordinated the entire wedding plus she was a bridesmaid in Tony’s wedding. I heard several comments like: “Kari has a gift for being an excellent wedding coordinator,” and “No wonder she is successful as a bridal consultant – she is gifted!” “She is so creative!” “Kari is so organized. She is just like her mother.”
Is Kari gifted or is she talented? What is the difference? I discovered a subtle difference between natural talents and supernatural gifts. I discovered talents come through natural inheritance whereas supernatural gifts are given directly from the Lord.
I thought about gifts. Most all gifts from man are tangible – something a person can put in a box tied with a ribbon or sealed in an envelope. The recipient can actually hands-on receive it, open it, and use it or return it. But man’s gifts – though given through much thought – are temporary, although some may be kept as keepsakes, and then what? That is the extent of our gifts.
However, God gives supernatural gifts that are not seen, but are immensely more valuable and last forever. Although God’s gifts cannot be seen, the effects of His gifts have a profound rippling effect – gifts like faith, grace, mercy, wisdom, discernment, counsel, knowledge, courage, and fear of the Lord. He gives us the Holy Spirit who in turn gives us spiritual gifts to bless and benefit those who love the Lord God and seek to keep His commandments. These gifts include love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control – also known as fruit of the Holy Spirit.
Can you imagine giving a loved one a jar of grace or a box of fruit of the Spirit? The recipient stares into an empty box. What expression do you think would be on his/her face? The box is empty because man cannot give such gifts. God’s gifts are extraordinary and cannot be duplicated by man regardless of the monetary value. God’s gifts cannot be contained in a box no matter how large, or how pretty the bow is, nor can they be sealed in an envelope.
God’s best gift of all is the His only Son Jesus. God doesn’t draw names to see who gets which gift either. No, He chooses specific gift(s) for believers in order to accomplish His purpose which is to build up, to encourage, and to comfort those who live by faith. There are as many gifts as there are needs, so His children will never be deprived of a spiritual gift. Through Jesus Christ alone, those who believe receive the gift of eternal life! A person cannot work enough to buy it; he cannot do enough to earn it; and he cannot be good enough to deserve it. Priceless.
As for talents, they are of God as well, and should be used to serve God and others. God instills talents for a different purpose than the gifts He gives. Kari used her God-given talents as a natural outpouring of her spiritual gifts. “Every good and perfect gift is from above, and comes down from the Father of lights, who does not change like shifting shadows.” (James 1:17) Suchspiritual gifts are to be received as a special gift for a specific purpose.