This is the most important transformation of all. Before we become Christians we are basically selfish, self‑centred in everything we do—including our use of our talents. Whatever talents we have, we use for personal fulfilment: pleasure, making money, building a career, acquiring possessions, getting prestige, and so on. We use our talents for ourselves. We live for ourselves. The things we are good at, we do for ourselves. Even when we genuinely want to help other people—and many non‑believers do want to help other people—we have no idea of helping them out of love for God.
But after conversion, the Holy Spirit changes us and we are no longer selfish or self‑centred. Our model now is: whatever you do, do all to the glory of God. And that is our great goal and our great theme: to please him, to honour him, to serve him, and to do his will. Above all else, that is what we desire: to obey him, to please him, to show how we love him, to serve him, to express our thankfulness to him, and to bring glory and praise to God. As Christians we do what we do out of love for our Saviour who died for us. We serve our fellow men because they are made in God’s image. We have a new focus. We have a new direction. We have a new motivation. In the words of our text:
We serve, in order that in everything God may be glorified through Jesus Christ.If you have a talent for making money or a gift for making money, what is your motivation? Is it for yourself? Then that is just a talent. Is it for God? Then that is a gift. Have you got a talent or a gift? The first clue to help you unravel that is your motivation, your direction, your focus. Are you doing it in obedience to God’s commandments and for his glory?https://www.christianstudylibrary.org/article/gifts-holy-spirit-gifts-and-talents
Edward Donnelly
15 But when he who had set me apart before I was born, and who called me by his grace,