For just as each of us has one body with many members, and these members do not all have the same function, so in Christ we, though many, form one body, and each member belongs to all the others. We have different gifts, according to the grace given to each of us. If your gift is prophesying, then prophesy in accordance with your faith; if it is serving, then serve; if it is teaching, then teach; if it is to encourage, then give encouragement; if it is giving, then give generously; if it is to lead, do it diligently; if it is to show mercy, do it cheerfully.

Romans 12: 4-8

Several years ago, our company’s sales division read the book, Now, Discover Your Strengths and each of us also took the assessment designed to uncover our greatest strengths. The premise of the book and the Strength Finder tool was to maximize our strengths in order to overcome the weaknesses we all have.

The book, purposely or not, borrowed from the concepts expressed by Paul in the verses above. As followers of Christ we have different gifts and abilities and when we each make the best use of the God-given strengths within us, everyone wins.

Paul provides a brief list of specific gifts and you may find yourself listed in the verses above. You may have several gifts from the list, but remember it is not an exhaustive checklist. As we learned in the previous verse, we should view ourselves accurately and then get to work. As Paul wrote to the Colossians, “Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters.”

We all have particular strengths. Are we making the most of them?