Talents
OPENING PRAYER:
Dear Lord, please help me to recognize and use the gifts you have given me. Help me to use my talents and abilities to benefit the people I encounter each and every day for your honor and glory.
READ:
“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 what worthless servant outside, into the darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.’ Matthew 25:14-30
1 Peter 4:10
“Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others, as faithful stewards of God’s grace in its various forms.” 1 Peter 4:10
REFLECT:
The Super Bowl has come and gone, and for many of us, it was disappointing. Part of that disappointment comes from having had such high hopes for victory. There was good reason to believe the Chiefs would prevail because there are many players and coaches associated with that team who clearly are using their God-given talents to their fullest extent. We all are better off when we experience others being what God made them to be.
Even though us regular folks may not have the skills or talents that put us on the world’s stage like superstar football players, it’s important to remember that God has blessed all of us with gifts of our own. Whether it be a skill with bold and obvious impact, or something very much under the radar, God has blessed us all and is well-pleased when we use his gifts to further his purpose.
APPLY:
Are you like me, and find yourself unsure at times (or all the time) what gifts God has given you and how he wants you to use them? If so, spend some time in thoughtful prayer asking God how you can best use what he has given you. Consider journaling about your prayer time and take note of what you hear back. He loves it when we ask him for help, and he always provides us with what we truly need when we need it.
CLOSING PRAYER:
Thank you Jesus for blessing me and everyone with gifts and talents to use in the furthering of your kingdom here on earth.
WORSHIP: