From Squandering to Stewardship

Are your God-given abilities gathering dust in the basement of distraction, pride, or passivity?

What are you doing with the gifts God has entrusted to you? That’s not a rhetorical question it’s one we each must face honestly. When God formed you in your mother’s womb, and even more so when He made you new in Christ, He planted in you spiritual gifts, unique experiences, and innate abilities meant to reflect His glory and serve His people. But while every believer has these gifts, not every believer uses them well or at all.

The apostle Paul writes in 1 Corinthians 12:7, “To each is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good.” That includes you. Not just pastors. Not just missionaries. You.

And yet, too often, these divine gifts remain untouched, collecting dust while we live as though we have nothing to offer. Like wedding china that never leaves the cabinet, many of our gifts sit unused not because they’re not needed, but because they’ve been quietly buried beneath layers of distraction, pride, worldly influence, or simple inaction.

The Subtle Ways We Squander What God Has Given

Romans 12 offers a blueprint for how spiritual gifts are meant to be lived out and where they so often get stuck. These detours, or “cul-de-sacs” as we might call them, are familiar to many of us. They feel safe and routine, but they quietly drain our spiritual vitality.

1. Selfishness Street

Perhaps the most common spiritual detour is thinking that our gifts are for us. This isn’t new. Paul anticipated this mindset, which is why he reminded the Roman believers, “So we, though many, are one body in Christ, and individually members one of another” (Romans 12:5). In other words, your gifts aren’t just for your career, your self-expression, or even your spiritual satisfaction. They are meant to edify the body of Christ.

In fact, a recent Barna Group study found that only 41% of practicing Christians say they have a clear sense of what God wants them to do with their lives. That leaves a majority potentially wandering, or worse, hoarding their gifts rather than sharing them.

We don’t get to treat spiritual gifts like personal property. When we say, “This is mine,” we echo the child clutching their toys not a servant of Christ. Instead, we must daily declare, “This is Yours, Lord. Use it.”

2. Pride Boulevard

Just as selfishness can shrink our vision, pride can puff it up to the point of blindness. Paul warns, “Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought to think, but think with sober judgment” (Romans 12:3). Pride tells us we’re above certain needs. It convinces us that small acts of service are beneath our talents.

But spiritual maturity doesn’t mean doing great things; it means faithfully doing the next thing especially when no one’s watching. Jesus, the most gifted man who ever lived, knelt and washed feet.

Consider this: less than 10% of churchgoers regularly volunteer in their congregations, according to a Lifeway Research survey. Is this because God has gifted so few—or because so many assume someone else will do it, or that their contribution won’t matter?

3. Worldliness Lane

This detour is often the most deceptive because it doesn’t look evil. It just looks… normal. Our culture celebrates busyness, entertainment, and productivity for ourselves. But Paul’s call is stark: “Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind” (Romans 12:2).

Are we offering the best of our energy to God and His people? Or do we spend the bulk of our strength chasing career advancement, social media dopamine hits, or the next binge-worthy show?

It’s not about guilt it’s about reordering love. Jesus said, “Seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness” (Matthew 6:33). If our gifts aren't being used to advance the kingdom, we’re advancing something far less eternal.

4. Passivity Circle

This final cul-de-sac might be the quietest and most comfortable and the most dangerous. Here, spiritual gifts die not through rebellion but through delay. Paul exhorts: “Having gifts that differ according to the grace given to us, let us use them” (Romans 12:6).

Procrastination may feel harmless, but it’s a subtle thief. Perhaps you’ve thought about helping with youth ministry, volunteering at a shelter, or encouraging that weary mom in your church. But you tell yourself, “Not now. Maybe later.” Days turn into years, and gifts turn to regrets.

James 4:17 cuts straight to the heart: “So whoever knows the right thing to do and fails to do it, for him it is sin.”

But What If I Don’t Know My Gifts?

You might be wondering, What if I’m not sure what my spiritual gifts are? That’s okay. Start simple. Ask yourself:

  • What do I do well that other people seem to value?

  • What gives me joy when I’m serving others?

  • What do fellow believers affirm in me?

Paul lists several examples in Romans 12: teaching, serving, encouraging, leading, giving, showing mercy. Peter echoes this in 1 Peter 4:10: “As each has received a gift, use it to serve one another, as good stewards of God’s varied grace.”

That means everyone has something to give even if it seems small. Maybe you’re great at organizing. Maybe you’re a comforting presence. Maybe you love kids or have a knack for fixing things. These aren’t accidental traits. They’re assignments.

And remember, churches thrive not just because of pastors or musicians, but because of prayer warriors, behind-the-scenes volunteers, and faithful encouragers. The gifts that go unseen by man are never unseen by God.

Revival Starts With You

If your spiritual gifts have been sidelined by pride, fear, distraction, or doubt, it’s not too late. As long as you have breath, God still has a purpose for you. But it begins with action. Lay aside the baggage. Get back in the game. Don’t overthink it just start where you are, with what you have, for the sake of someone else.

Because when you step into your God-given role, no matter how ordinary it feels, eternity is changed.

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