(Matt. 25:14-15)
Using all your talents and abilities is another important key to teamwork. The church must function like a team, and in order to do so, the team needs your talents and abilities.
In the parable of the talents, Jesus compares the Kingdom of God to a man taking a far journey and calling his servants together. This reveals Jesus as the One taking the journey, and He has called you and me together and has delivered unto us His goods. Each of us has received something from Him.
Jesus used money as the example, but in verse 35 continued, “For I was an hungered, and ye gave me meat: I was thirsty and ye gave me drink.”
Jesus gave to one five talents and to another two talents and to another one. This proves to us that He was not only referring to money, but also to our using the gifts and callings we have been given to help others. So I am going to use the word “talents” to refer to our gifts and callings. Like the man in the parable, Jesus then took His journey, only His journey took place after He was raised from the dead. Now He has given to each of us certain talents to be used for His Kingdom.
You may say, “Brother Nance, I don’t have any gifts or talents.”
But you do, according to 1 Peter 4:10 NASB, which says, “As each one has received a special gift, employ it in serving one another as good stewards of the manifold grace of God.” Your talents may just be lying dormant, waiting to be used.
In the midst of being faithful where God has placed you, by faith begin to draw on the abilities within you. You have the Creator on the inside. Pray and trust Him for His complete will to be fulfilled in your life. You will be blessed as will everyone else in your world.
- If you are not clear as to what gifts and talents you posses, think about those things you are good at, strengths that others have commented on. What brings you the greatest joy in life? Maybe you love talking to people. Maybe you’re a detail person. Perhaps you are task oriented. These are all indicators to consider when trying to recognize the gifts God has endowed you with.
- If you already know your talents and are flowing in them, purposely think of them as a gift you can give others, or better yet, a gift that God wants to give others through you.
- The following are some verses for study and meditation:
“It is the one and only Holy Spirit who distributes these gifts. He alone decides which gift each person should have” (1 Cor. 12:11 NLT).“For the gifts and calling of God are without repentance” (Rom. 11:29).
“A man’s gift maketh room for him, and bringeth him before great men” (Prov. 18:15).
Father God, thank You for the gifts and callings You have given me. I want to develop them to their highest potential. If there are some I am not aware of, I ask You to reveal them to me. By faith I draw on these precious resources for the good of those I come into contact with and the ministry I serve. Amen.
Excerpt permission granted by Harrison House Publishers
Terry has served as senior associate minister of a thriving congregation for over 23 years with over 40 years of experience in local church ministry. He is currently the senior pastor of Impact Church in Sherwood, Arkansas. Terry has authored four books. On the bestselling list, these books have motivated thousands of Christians to stand with their leaders in faithful service, helping them to fulfill God's purpose for their lives.
Terry is the Founder and President of Focus on the Harvest, Inc. He's traveled extensively, awakening believers to this strategic generation. Through his God-given passion, believers are ignited to discover their gifts and callings, commit to the vision of their local church, and focus on the harvest of souls throughout their city, state, nation, and world.
Terry holds a Bachelor of Science degree from Southwestern University, where he met his wife, Kim. They've been married for over 40 years and have three children; McCall, Alex, and McKenna.
In May 2008, Terry and Kim began Impact Church, a dynamic and growing, multicultural body of believers in Sherwood, AR. We believe that Christianity is not a religion; it's a relationship. God loves each person individually. He desires everyone to know him personally.