One of my disappointments in working in the church is that I have met several people who were intelligent and talented, but did not want to use their abilities for God. They were caught up in their own world and had too many other things they wanted to do with their time.
On the other hand, one of my joys has been to see some average people do extraordinary things. Now, when I say “average” I am referring to the way everybody else sees them. In truth, they have exceptional Christian faith and character and they demonstrate them in what they do. That excites me!
I suppose this is one of the reasons I like “underdog” stories, such as The Tortoise and the Hare. When the two animals decide to have a race, everybody knows the Hare is faster and he can easily win the race. But, the Tortoise is persistent. He has determination and he is willing to work hard, despite the heavy shell on his back that slows him down. In the end, the Tortoise wins the race because the Hare doesn’t take the race seriously enough to apply his abilities appropriately.
I don’t think God is as concerned about the number of talents that we have as He is about how we use what He has given us. After all, He gives us the talents in the first place. And, He apportions them according to His own plan. Those who receive more talents have greater responsibility—greater accountability.
In some cases, it seems that hard work out trumps talents. That is, sometimes, we can compensate for a lack of expertise by persistent hard work. We may not be the smartest person in the building, nor may we have the most charismatic personality, but we can have a very productive life through faithful service to God and to others. In this way, we can fulfill our purposes in life.
Apostle Paul reminded the Christians in Corinth about the importance of faithful service when he wrote, Therefore, my dear brothers, stand firm. Let nothing move you. Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain. (1 Corinthians 15:58 NIV) Then he told the Christians in Colossae,Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men, since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving. (Colossians 3:23-24 NIV)
So, let’s use the talents and skills that God has given us to serve Him and other people. Let’s be faithful, persistent, and hard working, because we are serving the King of Kings.
In God we trust.
Phil