“God has given each of you some special abilities; be sure to use them to help each other, passing on to others God’s many kinds of blessings.” 1 Peter 4:10 (TLB)

Before you were born, God decided in advance what contribution he wanted you to make with your life. Ephesians 2:10 says, “God has made us what we are. He has created us in Christ Jesus to live lives filled with good works that he has prepared for us to do” (GW).

God wants you to serve him on earth. He didn’t put you here just to take up space, use resources, and die. He put you here to make the world a better place, to make a unique contribution, and to serve him with the shape that he gave you.

Nobody else can be you. If you don’t serve God the way he planned for you, then the world misses that part of the puzzle.

Another name for good works is “ministry.” Anytime you use your talents and abilities to help someone, you are ministering to them. The Bible says in 1 Peter 4:10 in The Living Bible paraphrase, “God has given each of you some special abilities; be sure to use them to help each other, passing on to others God’s many kinds of blessings.”

You know those talents that you may have been trying to use for your benefit? They’re actually not just for you. God gave you your talents and skills and abilities for the benefit of other people.

God wired the universe so that we would need each other. Nobody’s got it all together—but we don’t have to! We were created to depend on each other and benefit from each other’s gifts.

When you get to heaven, you’re going to serve God forever, so he wants you to practice now.

On earth it’s impossible to serve God directly. The only way you can serve God now is by serving other people. That means anytime you help someone, it’s like you’re doing it for him. You’re practicing on earth what you’re going to do in heaven.

Do you want to serve God well? Start practicing now by serving others.