Talents or Gifts?

© Stephen Eagle Brooks 2013

What is the difference between talents and gifts from a Christian perspective?

An individual is born with a talent or, sometimes, many talents. Just remember the parable?

Have you developed yours to the fullest potential or "buried" them in an attempt to "save" them? Newsflash: you cannot take them with you when you go.

I have one friend who has many talents. He is an outstanding watercolorist, photographer, author, musician, stand-up comedian, and all-around nice person. He has done a great job of developing his "talents" and sharing them with the rest of the world.

Sadly, I have another friend who has many talents who refuses to the ones she has been given. In effect, she "buries them.

Gifts are quite a bit more complicated, but they ARE NOT synonymous with talents. So, when someone says I "have a gift" when it comes to playing a musical instrument, though a nice thing to say, it is not correct. Instead, they should say, “I have a talent that I have developed to share with others.”

The best place to start learning about "gifts" is Romans, Chapter 12. These gifts are the ones that Father God distributes to each individual when he/she accepts Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord. These gifts are called "motive gifts." Most of the time a person receives only one,  infrequently, two or three. God "gives" these gifts for the individual to "use" for the growth and edification of the Body of Christ. These gifts include: prophecy, ministry, teaching, exhortation, giving, leadership, and mercy. So, there are seven motive gifts. You may find them in Romans 12: 6-8.

I hope this explanation begins to clear up some of the differences between talents and gifts. Imagine, or sort of picture in your mind, a Christian person who uses his/her talents AND gifts to their fullest potential. What a tremendous blessing!

In closing, we have only mentioned the gifts that God gave to the church, or one-third of the "whole counsel." We still have the Holy Spirit's gifts and the gifts of Jesus to discuss on another day.