Making the Most of our Talents
PLEASE DON’T STOP READING! You, who think you have no talents! Oh, yes you do, and I am here to remind you about them today!
Once upon a time I sang in my school choir and in church choirs. I was also a singer in the Masters IV Quartet. I played the organ and the piano. I was even a great decoupage artist and seamstress. I was a real estate broker. I was a pilot.
None of those activities would describe me today, but I can still belt out singing with a crowd of people and as a child of God making music to Him. And I can still play a little diddy on the piano. I don’t profess to be an artist, but I can create and make greetings cards on my computer.
I can still sew up a seam, but I no longer make baby clothes. I am no longer a real estate broker, but I can give my husband advice about selling his house. I no longer pilot a plane, but I can remember the joys of flying AND I can soar with joy in my heart and soul because of God’s amazing grace.
Regardless of what I can’t or don’t do, I know God has given you and me unique abilities, talents, and gifts. Those gifts represent the things that God has given us that makes you and me who we are and sets us apart from other people.
If we think our talents are simply for us to make a lot of money, retire, and die, we’ve missed the point of our lives. God gave us talents to benefit others, not so much for ourselves. God gave other people talents that benefit us.
In the body of Christ, each part matters. There are no insignificant people in the family of God. We are shaped to serve God and use the gifts He has given us.
Whoever we are or whatever we do, God gave us abilities to serve others. The Bible tells us, “Each one should use whatever gift he has received to serve others, faithfully administering God’s grace in its various forms” (1 Peter 4:10).
We are the managers of the gifts God has given to us. They may be great or small in our eyes, but they matter to God. When God created us, He made an investment in us, and He expects a return on that investment.
If God has given us a talent, He wants to use it. It’s like a muscle. If we use it, it will grow. If we don’t use it, we’ll lose it. If we have a talent but are afraid to use it, or if we get lazy and don’t use it to benefit others, we’re going to lose it. Like the parable of the ten talents in Luke 19, if we don’t use what God has given us, He will take it away and give it to someone else who will.
But if we use our talents wisely, God will give us more. If we use our time wisely, God will give us more time. If we use our energy wisely, God will give us more energy. If we use our influence wisely, God will increase our influence. God will bless our level of faithfulness!
So, let’s dust off those gifts and talents and let God use us for His honor and glory!