1 timothy 4:15-16 (kankanaey)

"Be diligent in these matters; give yourself wholly to them, so that everyone may see your progress.  Watch your life and doctrine closely.  Persevere in them, because if you do, you will save both yourself and your hearers"

As a young leader in a church that had a lot of problems, Timothy may have felt intimidated. But the elders and prophets encouraged him and charged him to use his spiritual gift responsibly.  Highly skilled and  talented athletes lose their abilities if their muscles aren't
toned by constant use, and we will lose our spiritual gifts if we don't put them to work.  Our talents are improved by exercise, but failing to use them causes them to waste away from lack of practice and nourishment.  What gifts and abilities has God given you? Use them regularly in serving God and others.

We know the importance of watching our lives closely.  We must be on constant guard against falling into sin that can so easily destroy us.  Yet we must watch what we believe just as closely.  Wrong beliefs can quickly lead into sin and heresy.  We should be on guard against those who would persuade us that how we live is more important than what we believe.  We should persevere in both.

More verses on using well the abilities God has given us:

Romans 12:1 - Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship.

Timothy 1:6-8 - Therefore I remind you to stir up the gift of God which is in you through the laying on of my hands. For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind. Not Ashamed of the Gospel. Therefore do not be ashamed of the testimony of our Lord, nor of me His prisoner, but share with me in the sufferings for the gospel according to the power of God.