I was just talking with someone about my work/ministry situation, and here is my learning over the past year:
I believe talents and gifts are separate entities, but they work together…I believe that our passions are directly associated and correlates with our gifts.
Therefore, I believe that you can only operate in your talents for so long and be happy and satisfied.
Here is how I have come to that conclusion…I am a publications/web person for a local church, but my calling and passion is for ministry, specifically in the area of Student Ministry. My gifts all support this calling and my passion, but I have talents that qualify me for my position in publications and web design. As many people know, I have served as a full time lead youth pastor, but am now serving as a volunteer in a 3 year old church plant. There are many days where I am frustrated and aggravated because I am not serving where I am the strongest and I am not able to feed my passion on a full time basis. I get to do a lot of what I like to do and what I am talented to do, but it is not the same…I am basically stuck in a full time hobby!
God has a purpose for this. I have learned a great deal over the last year, and I know he has plans for me in the future. I deal with friends thinking I am an idiot or crazy, and the fact is I feel that way sometimes, but when we tell Jesus “I will follow you anywhere at anytime no matter the cost!” When does that become a reality? In my case it is right now…stupid or not!
Nick