Talent and Humility: Using Gifts with Servant Hearts

Christian community is one of the greatest gifts the church has to offer. We set aside what may be best for ourselves and instead look to what is best for the entire body of Christ. There is not one single person in the church who can do everything on their own; we all have different gifts, opportunities, and resources. We need one another. Paul wrote to the church in Philippi to remind them that division and selfish ambition will keep them from being like Christ and from furthering the mission of God. It is only in humility that we can serve others. 

Christ took on a posture of humility and modeled servant leadership as He gave up his divine nature to fully love and serve others. To be like Christ, we need a similar radical humility, a genuine and significant overhaul of how we view our own importance. We need to prioritize making more and better disciples over our own ambitions, having a Christ-like heart for serving others. 

There are countless opportunities to use our giftings for ourselves. We can be tempted to seek praise, find value, and inflate our own ego as we pursue meeting our own needs. It is when we set this temptation aside, recognizing God gifted us to serve others, that we uncover not only the blessing of serving but the sense of satisfaction that can only come from being used by God for His purposes. It can be easy to volunteer or use our skills at church to just check a box; We need to understand serving is about placing the needs of others above ourselves and furthering God’s purposes. It is about coming alongside others, in humility, for God glory. 

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Lord, hear the hope in my heart as I come to You today. I desire to serve You without selfish ambitions or boastful pride. Make me more like Christ. Help me to serve in humility and out of love for others. Reframe my thoughts to focus on You alone. I thank You for never giving up on me as I walk this road of sanctification. In Jesus name I pray, Amen.