Not practicing our gift could have dire consequences. Whatever talent or gift God has given you, you are to use it for the good of the church. If you don’t use it, not only you might lose it, but along with it, you might end up ruining yourself.
“Do not neglect the gift you have.. practice these things, immerse yourself in them, so that all may see your progress. Keep a close watch on yourself and on the teaching. Persist in this, for by so doing you will save both yourself and your hearers.” 1 Tim 4:14-16
Is Paul suggesting that we might lose our salvation if we do not exercise our gift? Is the “save” in verse 16 the same as being saved from our sins unto Christ? Probably not. However, it is important enough that Paul uses the strongest language possible to keep us serving in the area of our giftedness.
One of the reasons that I am afraid of ever stepping down from the ministry is that once I stop exercising my gift, my spiritual walk itself will suffer and my relationship with Christ along with it. Of course, it is not the exercising of our gifts that keeps us saved, but the grace and the power of God alone. But God uses exercising our gifts as a means to keep us in Him, to bring joy to our hearts, and to imbue significance to us beyond ourselves.
Although there is danger to idolize our ministry, it is equally dangerous to neglect it. You will stop growing once you stop serving and using your gifts.
When you only live for yourself, that’s when you start dying.
PH