Author:  Helen Mitchell

For we are God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works,which God prepared in advance for us to do. (Ephesians 2:10 NIV)

Have you ever stopped and really thought about what kind of good works God intended for you to do? He had them in mind before you were even born. God gave you the skills, talents and abilities that you would need in order to do good works – to fulfill your life mission – to fulfill your destiny.

A few of the definitions of the word "works" in Ephesians 2:10 are, business, employment, anything accomplished by hand or mind, industry or undertaking. You have a ministry both inside and outside of the church which includes the work you do in your job.

Your skills, talents and abilities are the instruments or tools God gave you to fulfill your destiny. We don't get to choose our talents but we can choose to use them, to develop them, and to use them for God's glory.

It can be so easy to identify with what we do and the skills that we have that our behaviors may be such to make others feel bad because they can't do what we do. Or we may begin to believe that we are inferior to a co-worker because we don't have the same skills and abilities that they posses. Both attitudes are wrong. We need to stop comparing ourselves.

For who makes you different from anyone else? What do you have that you did not receive? And if you did receive it, why do you boast as though you did not? 1 Corinthians 4:7 (NIV)

Regardless of the job that you do, the industry you work in or the title that you hold, you can glorify God in your work when you are working for him; doing the work he planned in advance for you to do while using the skills, talents and abilities he gave you.

Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men, since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving. (Colossians 3:23-24 NIV)

Three Ways to Honor God with Your Abilities

1. By making an honest living
   Settle down and get to work. Earn your own living. (2 Thessalonians 3:12 NLT)
    
2. By building up the Church
   Why is it that [God] gives us these special abilities to do certain things best? It is that God's people will be equipped to do better work for him, building up the Church, the body of Christ, to a position of strength and maturity. (Ephesians 4:12 LB)
    
3. By serving others
   God has given each of you some special abilities; be sure to use them to help each other, passing on to others God's many kinds of blessings. (1 Peter 4:10 LB)

 Even if your job is not perfect, God brought you there because he intended for you to use your gifts, talents, and abilities for his glory and to benefit your employer.

I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful,I know that full well. (Psalm 139:14 NIV)

Until next week...

Discussion Questions:

1. What skills, talents and abilities did God entrust to you?
2. Have you ever thought about how God could use you to serve others at work and to practically serve those with whom you work as you look out for their interests as well as your own?
3. You weren't meant to go this alone. How would your employer benefit if you worked more closely with your co-workers and who would that include?