Time and Abilities

All of us have passions. 

Now there are varieties of gifts, but the same Spirit; and there are varieties of services, but the same Lord; and there are varieties of activities, but it is the same God who activates all of them in everyone. To each is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good.

1 Corinthians 12:4-7

Good stewardship is discovering within ourselves what it is that we care deeply about when we consider the “common good,” and then living out that passion in our faith journey. We cannot do it all! But everyone can do something.  We can discover our own passion and gifts and use them in serving the world that God so loved.  It may be ecology, or justice, or hunger, or enhancing our common good through the gift of listening.  It may be music, or art, or dance. It may be compassion for those in crisis.  It may be teaching or evangelism or visitation.  My good Baptist friends might say “This is the burden that God has placed on my heart!”

So, the first question in considering “Time and Abilities” is “What excites you?  What gift/s has God blessed you with?  How can you use your passion in your faith journey?

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A second issue in “Time and Abilities” concerns the needs of the congregation. 

We have gifts that differ according to the grace given to us: prophecy, in proportion to faith; ministry, in ministering; the teacher, in teaching; the exhorter, in exhortation; the giver, in generosity; the leader, in diligence; the compassionate, in cheerfulness.

Romans 12:6-8

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How can we use our gifts in serving this community of faith, ensuring that our ministry remains vital and inviting for others?