The Urgency of Eternity: Caring for Our Talent – Part 1

Scripture Reading: Matthew 25:14-27

Key Verse: Matthew 25:28-30

“‘Take the talent from him and give it to the one who has the ten talents.  ²⁹ For everyone who has will be given more, and he will have an abundance. Whoever does not have, even what he has will be taken from him. ³⁰ And throw that worthless servant outside, into the darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.’

This parable, told by Jesus, is to help us visualize the future.  Every person will be judged by God, the only true and fair judge.  God put within us a purpose for existence.  God planned to use us to bless our world before we came out of our mother’s womb.  Hebrews 13:20-21 reminds us that it is God who equips us to do His will and works in us that which is pleasing to Him.  This equipping and divine work is represented in today’s parable by the word: “Talents.”

First, we need to note that God’s equipping process is not equally distributed among His children.  God has designed all of us differently with equal value, but not equal “talents.”  One might say it this way: We are all of equal value but do not have identical work to accomplish.  We must trust God’s work in us and not envy His work in others.  I see His work in other pastors and admire the gifts and talents they are demonstrating to bless their congregations, but I must not envy them; God has deemed to give me what He has purposed for me to have and do.

Secondly, God includes us in the development process of our lives and purpose.  I must take what talents and gifts I have and grow them to their fullest.  That means I study and improve myself as much as I can.  It means I use my gifts to His glory and not my own.

Father, thank you for your work in me.  I will make every effort to make it all you want it to be for your glory and the good of those I influence.  In Jesus’ Name, Amen.