Where You Fit in God’s Perfect Blend of Sweet, Spicy and Savory
Where You Fit in God’s Perfect Blend of Sweet, Spicy and Savory
Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others, as faithful stewards of God’s grace in its various forms. 1 Peter 4:10 NIV
If you could describe your personality as a spice, what would it be?
Someone once said that “Variety is the spice of life,” and cultures the world over have proverbs that express the same idea. Over 100 different spices make our food tasty and unique. And, like our food, each of us has been put together with differently spiced personalities and temperaments that make life more interesting!
Karen served on a committee in her community that gained a new member. Conflict soon arose in the group and the unity they’d enjoyed fell apart. Likening our personalities to spices, Karen points out, “Each of us, individually, carry our own mix of spices, giving us a unique flavor. When certain flavors mix together, the dish becomes richer. Some people are a good fit for each other. But when other flavors get blended, you get bitterness or strangeness. And sometimes we have to get used to a new taste.”[1]
The Bible teaches us that, “Each of you should use whatever gift [or spices] you have received to serve others, as faithful stewards of God’s grace in its various forms” (1 Peter 4:10 NIV). Just as God has made us, in some cases, wildly different from one another, He did it by design. Our differences enable us to share His grace—His unearned favor, in many different ways. One person may need to encounter God’s grace and love with a hefty dash of chili pepper, while another responds to something soft and sweet.
Maybe you wish that you were flavored differently—sweeter or stronger, more peppery! Like Karen did, you can learn to accept the seasonings that God has chosen to flavor your temperament, and … give Him permission to add the life experiences and other people, to balance you out.
[1] Keegan, Karen. “Spicy Personalities.” In the Pursuit of Peace, 27 Feb. 2025, https://inthepursuitofpeace.blog/2025/02/27/spicey-personalities/. Accessed 4 Mar. 2025.