As a born again believer and follower of Christ we are given gifts, talents and abilities, from the Holy Spirit, that are to be used to bring God glory. This is a promise from the Lord, to us. 1 Peter 4:10 tells us, “Each one has received a special gift, employ it in serving one another as good stewards of the manifold grace of God.” We are to seek to please God with the gifts He has given us.

God created each of us with unique intrinsic value. In Romans 12:6 we are told, “We have different gifts, according to the grace given to each of us.” We are distinctively wired by the Lord for the life we are to live out. He has given us the tools we need to be successful in our endeavors. We are to embrace the opportunities we are given and use His gifts, unto the Lord. God never expects us to be like anyone else. Just be the best you, right where you are at this present time in your life. There is no one else who can fulfill the plans and purposes the Lord has set out for you and the lives He will have you touch for His eternal kingdom. Ephesian 2:10 tells us, “For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.”

In Matthew 25:14-30 Jesus speaks of what is called, “The Parable of the Talents.” It is a story of a master who was leaving to travel. He entrusts his property to his servants. When he returns home after being gone a long time, the master asks his three servants for an account of the talents he entrusted to them. This is the parable:

“Again, it will be like a man going on a journey, who called his servants and entrusted his wealth to them. To one he gave five bags of gold, to another two bags, and to another one bag, each according to his ability. Then he went on his journey.The man who had received five bags of gold went at once and put his money to work and gained five bags more.So also, the one with two bags of gold gained two more.But the man who had received one bag went off, dug a hole in the ground and hid his master’s money.

“After a long time the master of those servants returned and settled accounts with them.The man who had received five bags of gold brought the other five. ‘Master,’ he said, ‘you entrusted me with five bags of gold. See, I have gained five more.’“His master replied, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master’s happiness!’

“The man with two bags of gold also came. ‘Master,’ he said, ‘you entrusted me with two bags of gold; see, I have gained two more.’ “His master replied, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master’s happiness!’ 

“Then the man who had received one bag of gold came. ‘Master,’ he said, ‘I knew that you are a hard man, harvesting where you have not sown and gathering where you have not scattered seed. So I was afraid and went out and hid your gold in the ground. See, here is what belongs to you.’“His master replied, ‘You wicked, lazy servant! So you knew that I harvest where I have not sown and gather where I have not scattered seed? Well then, you should have put my money on deposit with the bankers, so that when I returned I would have received it back with interest.“‘So take the bag of gold from him and give it to the one who has ten bags.

For whoever has will be given more, and they will have an abundance. Whoever does not have, even what they have will be taken from them. And throw that worthless servant outside, into the darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.”

What a powerful exhortation from Jesus Christ explaining to us the importance of using our talents to give God glory! In 1 Corinthians 12:7 we are told, “Now to each one the manifestation of the Spirit is given for the common good.” Take a look around you. Embrace and pour into the life you have right now with the gifts the Lord has given you. Whatever your life situation may be, do your best within those confines. Only Christ can see the complete picture of the complexities and challenges of each life. God does not judge through human understanding. So being faithful in what seems to be a very small thing, could actually have huge rewards eternally. Jeremiah 32:19 says, “Great are your purposes and mighty are your deeds. Your eyes are open to the ways of all mankind; you reward each person according to their conduct and as their deeds deserve.” The Lord judges us on what we do with what He gives us. So don’t try to be something you are not or strive to do something you have not been called to do. Stick with what you know He has given you.

Embrace the life you have been given, use your gifts and talents to bring glory unto the Lord, and invest in them with a heavenly perspective. One day when our journey here ends and Christ ushers us into heaven, we will have the joy of hearing Him say, “Well done, good and faithful servant. You have been faithful over a little,” I will set you over much. Enter into the joy of your master.” Matthew 25:23

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