Gifts and Talents

It says in the Bible that God gives all of us gifts.  And you know that some people have natural talent.  So is natural talent the same as God given gifts?

If someone is good at cooking, does that mean that their gift is cooking?  In 1 Corinthians 12:7, Paul says that we are given gifts to help each other.  He goes on in this chapter to list the gifts that the Holy Spirit gives to us.  He says that we do not all have the same gifts and that we should desire the most helpful gifts.  is cooking the most desirable gift for you?  How can cooking help someone?  Cooking can certainly help a shut-in person who is restricted or limited in movement.  Would you consider that a gift?  It is not listed in that chapter so I guess I’d have to say no.  Cooking is not a gift but a natural talent.

There are many talents which show through when someone is speaking to you.  Do they talk about themselves?  Do they offer to help you in your need?  Paul goes on to say in 1 Corinthians 13 that the greatest gift is love.  Whether you cook for someone or put out their garbage, speaking to them like Christ would is a gift of love.  Let love be you goal.

Natural talents or spiritual gifts?  What do you think?