With Thanksgiving and Christmas around the bend, you may be one of the thousands of people who will consider purchasing a treadmill to shed unwanted pounds. Before adding an exercise apparatus to your shopping list, consider how many buy a treadmill and use it for a short time only. Soon the expensive equipment gathers dust and holds clothes in the corner.

You may be giving thanks well enough, but the other person is not being built up.

I Corinthians 14:17

When gifts aren’t used properly, they don’t produce the desired results. In today’s passage, Paul speaks of different kinds of gifts – spiritual ones. He reminds the church in Corinth how to “excel in building up the church” when using their gifts. (I Corinthians 14:12) While one may speak in tongues to give thanks to God, if no one can understand them, the gift is not serving its intended purpose to edify or teach the listener.

Each Christ follower has a special skill to glorify God and draw others to Him. While you may praise God with your words, are your gifts collecting dust in a corner? Ask God to help you use your given talents for His purpose, then pray for Christians in elected offices to use their gifts as they serve in government.

Recommended Reading: Romans 12:1-12