There’ve been a number of times when others have asked me a question I used to ask myself. “How do I know the difference between my purpose and the things I’m good at?” I tussled with this question for a while because like you, I wanted to be sure. So, I did some digging and God revealed some things to me that I hope helps you to find some clarity around this topic. Sometimes, we find ourselves immersed in the things we are able to do well, and other times we find ourselves learning a new skill that contributes to a craft we make our own. Some of us are able to better identify our purpose easier than others, and the search for it can be exhausting. What I’ve come to learn is that when it comes to our purpose, we may be overthinking, by thinking too small.
I took some time to really dig into this thing because the Bible talks about purpose and skill. We also hear many pastors and teachers use the Parable of the Talents (Matt. 25:14-30) to teach us the importance of utilizing what God has given us while here on Earth. I decided to look into some scriptures that talk about all three, and God gave me an understanding that brought peace. If you’re like me, you like words. You look up definitions, and synonyms, you’ve got that thesaurus on lock, and when you get into Bible study, you’re translating the words that stick out to you. I took a deeper look into a few scriptures, highlighting four specific words, purpose, skill, talent, and ability. Here’s what I found:
Purpose:
In Exodus 9:16, we’re coming to the end of the plagues God had sent to Pharoah and the Egyptians. In verse 16, God tells Moses that he is going to tell Pharaoh that the only reason why he’s [Pharaoh] is still kickin’ is for the purpose of God’s power to be seen in how He deals with him – that the name of the Lord would be declared among the earth. Other words used in varying transitions are ‘cause’ or ‘reason’. God’s purpose always points to His power and glory being exalted on Earth. Whether or not we are God’s friends or His enemy, He will use our lives for the purpose of being the stage for His power. When we’re working with God in reverence and humility, the display of His power leads to a glorified life instead of an unfortunate end like Pharoah.
Skill:
When I looked into the word skill a few variations came up, all having different definitions in the Hebrew text. In 1 Chronicles 25:1, the word ‘skill’ or ‘work’ / ‘workmen’ is used. The Hebrew word has a generic meaning, as in a person, but it also means a servant or steward. Moving to 2 Chronicles 2:14, the words ‘skill’ and ‘skillful’ are used in varying translations. In the Hebrew text, this word is defined as someone who is knowledgeable, distinguished, wise, or instructed in a particular discipline. It also means to be made known or reveal oneself. The last scripture I read regarding skill is Ezra 7:6. Another word used for skill was the word ‘ready’. In the Hebrew text, this means to be quick and prompt.
After studying these I learned that having skills has many meanings. To be skilled means you have served well or have been a good steward of your ability to do something. Sometimes, our skills are revealed in certain situations, or a skill that hasn’t been publicly displayed reveals us to others, and maybe even ourselves over time. As a distinguished individual due to the stewardship of said skill, you are quick to the task at hand when called upon. You’re reliable and can be trusted with the skills you possess.
Talent and Ability:
The Parable of the Talents is a pretty popular passage in scripture. I’ll give the SparkNotes for those who need them. Jesus uses this as a metaphor to describe what the Kingdom of Heaven is like. A man distributes a certain number of talents (i.e. money) to each of his servants “… according to their own ability” with the expectation that would use it to make an increase. All of the servants used their talents and received an increase except for one. He hid his talent. What I find interesting is that each servant was given a talent – remember the skill in 1 Chronicle – according to the ability, the master saw they were capable of handling. Talents are measured by weight, so it’s no surprise that they were given what the master perceived they could carry. The word for ability in Greek means the strength or inherent power of an individual, the capability to exert and put forth something. Your ability can also be related to your influence.
After reading all of that, I’m hoping that you see that you likely have all three in some form or fashion. When I finished studying this, I was still unclear, until God showed me something. Your purpose, skills, talents, and abilities all work together. These things are not necessarily compartmentalized, even though they may show up in different ways. Your purpose is the thing that puts God’s power and glory on display, your skills are the mechanisms you champion in a particular industry or discipline, your talent is what God gives you to apply your skills to, and your abilities are the God-given strength and power to carry that out. Your purpose never has to change because God can’t be boxed in, therefore He can be glorified in each skill, talent, and ability you have. I pray that this helps you, and I can’t wait to see how you make your life God’s stage in your own unique way.
Scripture Reading: Exodus 9:16; 1 Chronicle 25:1 ; 2 Chronicle 2:14; Ezra 7:6; Matthew 25:14-30
