Using our Gifts for the Good of Others

Entrusted with Purpose

We have all been given talents, skills and resources. It’s easy to see our skills and the resources we’ve worked hard for as personal accomplishments. The world sees these things as the measure of a successful life. The more you have, the more successful you are. Yet Jesus invites us to see our abilities and our resources as instruments of His grace and expressions of His love in the world.

Our personal talents are entrusted to us by our Creator. Some gifts are more visible than others, like the ability to sing, teach, or lead. Others are quieter, like listening, encouraging or praying. Yet God intends for us to use our talents, whatever they are, for His eternal purposes. He invites us to use what we’ve been given to serve others in need. When we do that, not only are we participating in something far greater than ourselves, but we are serving Christ Himself.

In Matthew 25, Jesus paints a vivid picture of stewardship and compassion. Through the parables of the talents and His description of the final judgment, we see that God measures faithfulness not by what we keep, but by what we give.

The Parable of the Talents

In this chapter, Jesus is sharing some final lessons with His disciples before the end. In verses 14-29, He tells a parable of a master giving some of his wealth to his servants to care for while he goes away. I’m sure you know the story. When the master of the house returns, he calls each of the servants forward to give an account of what they did with what they were given. Two servants used their talents and invested them and by doing so gained an increase for the master. They were rewarded. The servant who hid his single talent out of fear was cast into darkness.

This parable emphasizes a vital Kingdom principle. God gives each of us skills and even resources so we can use them to advance His Kingdom. We tend to focus on comparing our skills and talents with those of others. Yet this parable clearly shows that what our abilities are, or the number of skills or resources we have, is much less important than what we do with those skills and talents. Five talents, two talents or only one – The true value isn’t in what we possess but in how we share.

The Final Judgement

Immediately following this passage, Jesus begins talking about how He will judge all people in the end. He paints a parallel between two groups of people: the sheep and the goats. The sheep, who will inherit the Kingdom, are those who care for the hungry, thirsty, lonely, cold, and sick. The sheep give and serve without even realizing that they are serving Jesus Himself. Those who do not care for the vulnerable, the goats, just as in the example of the servant who hoarded his talent instead of using it, will be sent to the eternal fire.

The Conclusion

This is the metric by which God judges our lives at the very end. Have we used our God-given skills and talents on behalf of others for His glory and His Kingdom? Or, have we hid out of fear, or horded and buried our talents? Have we ignored the needs of the “least of these,” not realizing that we are ignoring God Himself? Do we understand that how we serve the vulnerable with the resources that were entrusted to us will be what God uses to judge us at the end of days?

Putting Faith into Practice

How do we put these principles into practice in our everyday lives?  It’s easy to feel inspired by Jesus’ teaching, but real transformation comes only when we take action. Here are a few practical tips.

1. Identify Your Gifts.

   Take time to pray and reflect: What skills, passions, or experiences has God placed in your life? Ask trusted friends or mentors to help you recognize where you naturally bring blessing to others.

2. Start Small, but Start Somewhere.

   Look around your church, workplace, or community. Could you volunteer your time, share your expertise, or simply lend a listening ear? Every act of service counts.

3. Partner with Purpose.

Join or support a ministry that aligns with your heart. International Christian charities, like ours, thrive on people using their God-given talents—whether through missions, giving, advocacy, or prayer. LEARN ABOUT SUPPORTING MPI

4. Invest Consistently.

Stewardship isn’t a one-time act; it’s a lifestyle. Set aside time regularly to serve, give, or connect with others in need. Small acts, done faithfully, create lasting impact.

5. Reflect and Rejoice.

As you serve, take moments to thank God for the opportunity to be part of His work. Every meal shared, every hand extended, every gift used for His glory is a reflection of His love reaching the world.

When we offer our gifts back to God, He multiplies them in ways we could never imagine. The work we do for others becomes an offering of worship—and through it, lives are changed, including our own.

Want to be inspired by how others are investing their gifts to serve others and invest in God’s Kingdom? Read our Real Life Impact-Stories from our local partners in East-Central Europe.