No Right or Wrong Answer
Did you ever wonder what you were created for and what your natural talents and abilities are? Maybe you have found your niche in life and know just what your purpose is. Unfortunately for a majority of the population, we work hard and play hard but are we really making a positive contribution in life?
Our society is so busy with schedules it seems like we have to plan ahead just to have some time to reflect on life. You will often hear people complain, “I am so exhausted, there is so Much to do I feel like I am constantly running but getting nowhere.” Other people like to tell us how busy they are and they will boastfully tick off all of the tasks that they have to do on any given day.
In his well known book, A Purpose Driven Life, Rick Warren of the Saddleback Church, shares that we are all created for a purpose because God does not create anything without value. I agree with Rick except I would question the existence of mosquitoes. Having spent more than 40 years living in the Midwest, I often wonder what their purpose is except to annoy and bite innocent individuals at happy family gatherings, kids at camp and just about any evening during summer!
The Bible says, “For we are God’s masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so that we can do the good things he planned for us long ago.” (Ephesians 2:10 NLT). The message is simple: God designed you specifically to fulfill a unique role in this life.
Do you know your role in life? Remember when you were in high school and everyone was trying to figure out what they wanted to be when they grew up? What should you major in, if you chose to pursue college, or what occupation really interested you? These were the questions juniors and seniors everywhere were pondering. There was a book I remember reading that almost every student in school read: What Color Is Your Parachute, by Richard Nelson Bolles. Richard has now rewritten his famous book and changed it from giving career advice to students to giving career advice to people who lost their jobs as well. This book is now become a job hunter’s bible and a best selling reference for more than three decades.
Just like back in high school, I decided that I want to learn more about my interests, talents and abilities. Thanks to the web, there is abundant information to help shed light on this quest for knowledge. When I did a search in Google using the words ‘spiritual gifts’ I was shocked at the response; Google found 1,020,000 matches. That number seemed very large but when you take into account that every web site mentioning the word “spiritual” is included, you understand why the number is so high.
What I was really searching for was a spiritual gifts test. I decided to investigate further so I clicked on one of the sites half way down the first page. The website offered many different resources on spirituality but I found what I was looking for. The great aspect about the web is that many spiritual gift tests are online and require paperwork to fill out and mail in. The site I found had a detailed test which looked simple enough to complete. When I scrolled to the end of the questions, I realized this test was 125 questions. Actually the test is based on statements not questions. You rate the statements on a scale of 0 to 4. According to the directions, you are to select the response that best describes or characterizes yourself. The directions also stated that you should not answer according to what you think should be true, but answer based on your actual past experiences. Unlike many other tests you have taken there are no right or wrong answers, only insight into your unique combination of talents.
There are many different web sites offering a multitude of spiritual tests and they seemed to be designed with the same type of statements. After reading the statement, you decide if you agree and to what degree. Some sites offer instant test results. Within a minute you will see the calculations of your responses as they relate to the different categories of spiritual gifts. Other sites ask you to fill out a form and they will email you your spiritual gifts test results. If you are like me and want results now not later then look for sites that do not require further interaction.
Spiritual gifts fall into a variety of categories including administration, hospitality, giving, teaching, leadership, wisdom and pastoring. There are some websites which provide great detail about each category and how it translates into opportunities. For example, hospitality means you would enjoy working as a greeter or usher, serving refreshments at a conference or seminar or being the first contact for a new individual who is looking to join a particular organization.
Whether you are looking for a new job, a volunteer position to serve in or just to learn more about yourself, taking a spiritual gifts test is a rewarding experience. Once you have completed the test, it is up to you what you do with the results. You can contact a local church or non- profit organization to learn more about serving opportunities. You can read more about your spiritual gifts through books and online resources. Research shows that those who are tuned into their unique gifts and abilities work more efficiently, need less supervision and feel more satisfaction than individuals who feel like a square peg in a round hole, running 90 miles an hour.
Learning how to function in the gifts of the Spirit, you can be the instrument God created you to be, to transmit His love and miracles to others.
ALLISON PENN