Every single Christian, whether tall or short, blue or black, has at least something she or he can offer. The talents I talk about here are your capabilities—not only money, a huge following online, or beauty. I am talking about the very skills and opportunities already at your disposal.
Whether you can dance, cook well, sew, or work with a computer, these are all talents.
More Than Money or Spiritual Gifts
Many Christians have misinterpreted the famous parable of the talents by thinking it is all about money and spiritual gifts. No, it is way beyond that. In fact, let’s look at it in Matthew 25:14-28 (NASB):
“For it is just like a man about to go on a journey, who called his own slaves and entrusted his possessions to them. To one he gave five talents, to another, two, and to another, one, each according to his own ability; and he went on his journey. The one who had received the five talents immediately went and did business with them, and earned five more talents. In the same way the one who had received the two talents earned two more. But he who received the one talent went away and dug a hole in the ground, and hid his master’s money. “Now after a long time the master of those slaves came and settled accounts with them. The one who had received the five talents came up and brought five more talents, saying, ‘Master, you entrusted five talents to me. See, I have earned five more talents.’ His master said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful slave. You were faithful with a few things, I will put you in charge of many things; enter the joy of your master.’ “Also the one who had received the two talents came up and said, ‘Master, you entrusted two talents to me. See, I have earned two more talents.’ His master said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful slave. You were faithful with a few things, I will put you in charge of many things; enter the joy of your master.’ “Now the one who had received the one talent also came up and said, ‘Master, I knew you to be a hard man, reaping where you did not sow, and gathering where you did not scatter seed. And I was afraid, so I went away and hid your talent in the ground. See, you still have what is yours.’ “But his master answered and said to him, ‘You worthless, lazy slave! Did you know that I reap where I did not sow, and gather where I did not scatter seed? Then you ought to have put my money in the bank, and on my arrival I would have received my money back with interest. Therefore: take the talent away from him, and give it to the one who has the ten talents.’”
Start with What Is Already in Your Hands
Many of us have not looked at the talents we have right under our noses. We continually keep praying for God to open financial doors and big opportunities so that we can manifest His glory. This is actually good, but in doing so we miss the very talents God has already entrusted us with. What are you already good at?
Whether writing, communicating, preparing parties, cooking—name it—this is where you are supposed to start. If you are good at cooking, you can work in the kitchen. If you are good at organizing events, you can handle your friend’s party. This is what Jesus was actually referring to when He spoke of the talents in the parable.
Yet many Christians think they should first have huge sums of money. They believe this will manifest God’s glory by giving more tithe, helping the poor, and so on. Others think they should first have spiritual mantles so they can heal, prophesy, and preach powerfully. So they spend more time asking God for these things instead of concentrating on the very few things already in their presence, because this is what God wants.
From Waiting to Using
Move from stopping and waiting for some supernatural miracle so that you can be used by God. To putting the little you have into the service of God.
Use the talents the master already left you. Then he will come and increase them if you use them efficiently. If you are good at drawing, concentrate on preaching through your art. This will move God to open bigger opportunities for your art to trend and reach a wider audience. From merely drawing, to telling stories through your pictures. To winning awards and gaining public recognition—this is the way of the talents.
Not Everyone Is Called the Same Way
Not all of us are called to be preachers, nor prophets, nor are all of us meant to be rich. Because if all of us were preachers, who then would we be preaching to? If all of us were prophets, who then would we be prophesying to?
For this reason, God blessed each one of us. And I mean each one of us—in one way or another. You may be good at math and numbers while I am good at writing. Your neighbor may be good at teaching while you are good at socializing. These are all talents, and these are what you are supposed to nourish so that they become effectively rewarding to the kingdom of God. Then God will expand you because you have proven to be a diligent and faithful servant, as He put it in verse 29 of the same chapter:
“For to everyone who has, more shall be given, and he will have an abundance; but from the one who does not have, even what he does have shall be taken away.” (Matthew 25:29, NASB)
The Multiplication Principle
That is what happens when you fail to utilize even the little God has already entrusted you with. You have heard of the principle which states that if you want to get better at something, do it over and over again until you master it.
If you recall the parable, it echoes this principle too. Those who have will be added to, and those who do not, even the little will be taken away. If you want to be the best at what you do or want to be used mightily by God, you have to dedicate yourself more to the very things He has already entrusted you with. Use them until there is nothing left but only to be multiplied. This is where God will entrust you with more responsibility.
