These twelve Jesus sent out with the following instructions: "Go nowhere among the Gentiles, and enter no town of the Samaritans, but go rather to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.  As you go, proclaim the good news, 'The kingdom of heaven has come near.'  Cure the sick, raise the dead, cleanse the lepers, cast out demons.  You received without payment; give without payment.

Give to others and to God what you have received from God.  "What do you have that you did not receive?  And if you received it, why do you boast as if it were not a gift?"  (1 Corinthians 4.7)

We will be required to give an account to God for all that we have received.  The "parable of the talents" in Luke 19.11-27 makes this clear.  If this is the case how necessary it is that we take stock of all that God has given us to ensure we are giving it away and developing it further.  How many there are today who do not think they have received anything from God.  In thinking so they must consider God a miser.  In fact, "God pours gifts on his beloved while they slumber"  (Psalm 127).  It requires prayer and discernment to best discover the gifts of God which are unique to the individual.

We cannot give what we have not received, only what has been given us.  "I have no silver or gold, but what I have I give you; In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, stand up and walk." (Acts 3.6)  Pride may prevent some from distributing what they have out of a desire to have what they do not.  To one is given silver and gold to distribute to the poor - shall they try to be a healer instead?  Still others may fear they will lose some vital part of themselves if they give themselves away, as though God's gifts to us constituted our identity or the essence of the relationship he has with us, which would be endangered if we gave them away.

A generous heart is necessary.  Imagine if a disciple went off by himself and simply meditated on God's obvious love for him in giving him such gifts - the power to raise the dead!  And he praised God.  But upon returning to Christ he is asked "and what souls have you won me by using these powers?"  Gifts must be used, not hoarded, lest we be destroyed in the judgment (Luke 19.27)

Finally, we must listen and watch carefully every day for occasions to use our gifts.  Not just each day but in the small moments within the day.  If Peter had been caught up in his own concerns and thoughts he would have missed the opportunity to heal the lame man at the temple gate.  But he healed him and a crowd gathered in amazement which Peter used as an opportunity to preach the word.  A wonderful example of what gifts are for.