The Bible teaches that we are responsible to do our best with the talents and abilities that God has given us. 1 He has entrusted us with skills, resources, time, energy, minds, and spirits, and we’ll find the greatest satisfaction when we invest them in things that please God and that are aligned with His plan.
There are many ways to do this, of course. God has different callings for each of us, and each of us will bring our unique personalities and circumstances to the table. The Bible gives us some ideas: “caring for orphans and widows in their distress,” 2 giving to the hungry, visiting those in prison, 3 being an example of Christ in our workplace, 4 etc. In addition, other avenues to serve, such as preserving and enhancing God’s creation, can be deduced by what we know of God’s character.
When we do these things, we can depend on God’s promise that our work is not in vain. “Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters, since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward.” 5
The articles in this issue of Activated give more ideas of how we can “be Jesus” to those around us. Meanwhile, remember that in addition to our responsibilities to our families and society, we also have a responsibility to ourselves. As author Eleanor Brownn puts it, “Rest and self-care are so important. When you take time to replenish your spirit, it allows you to serve others from the overflow. You cannot serve from an empty vessel.” It’s a good reminder to cover all our bases.