Here’s a true story: a woman bought an old barn, and when she opened it up, she found eighteen classic cars inside. But they had been sitting there for years. They were rusty, dusty, and had flat tires. They looked like junk. But cleaned up and fixed, those old cars were worth a fortune!

If you’re not careful, the gifts God gives you can be like those cars. A gift that just sits there, unused, gets rusty and dusty and never does what it was made to do.

Imagine getting an awesome bike for your birthday and then never riding it—just leaving it in the garage to collect cobwebs. What a waste! The gift God gave you is way too good to leave alone to get dusty and rusty.

So what should you do? Dust off your gift and use it! When you start using the ability God gave you (to help, to encourage, to create, to lead) God makes it shine and grow. Don’t let your gift rust away. Take it out and use it for Him!

Take Action: Pick one gift or talent you have, and find a way to actually use it this week—don’t let it get rusty and dusty! If you’re good at drawing, make an encouraging card for someone. If you’re good at helping, find a chore to do without being asked. If you love music, sing a worship song. Take your gift out for a spin this week and let it shine for God!