“He also who had received two talents came and said, ‘Lord, you delivered to me two talents; look, I have gained two more talents besides them.’ His lord said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant; you have been faithful over a few things, I will make you ruler over many things. Enter into the joy of your lord.’”1
In God’s economy there is a place of service for every single member of his family; that is, for every individual Christian in the church, or what the Apostle Paul called “the body of Christ.” Every one of us is equally important. As Paul said, “The eye cannot say to the hand, ‘I don’t need you!’ And the head cannot say to the feet, ‘I don’t need you!’”2
And every one of us has at least one gift with which to serve God. The important thing is to know what your gifting is and put it to good use serving God … first at home … then in the church and Lord’s work … and in some way everywhere you go. For example, if you have the gift of encouragement, you can use that anywhere.
You are probably familiar with the words of Henry Van Dyke who said so simply yet so eloquently: “Use what talents you possess; the woods would be very silent if no birds sang except those that sang best.”
If you aren’t sure what your gifts are, ask yourself what is it that you like doing best and are good at doing? Or ask those who know you best, as they will see or sense what you are good at doing. Or you can take a spiritual gifts inventory such as is found at: http://www.fbchsv.org/biblestudy/gifts/gifts_inventory.html
Remember, too, that people are the “instruments” God uses to get his work done on earth and, like a doctor’s scalpel, the sharper the instrument, the more effective work God can do with the instrument. For example, if you have a desire to write, sing, teach, preach, or be a “butcher, baker or candlestick maker” then get the training necessary to be the best at what you like doing best. Then seek ways to use your gifts even if in seemingly humble ways to begin with. My job for several years as a young teenager was to collect and put away the hymn books in our small countrified church.
When we are faithful in the little things, God will lead us to bigger things if we so desire and are so gifted. Regardless, every responsibility is of equal importance in God’s service, and we will be rewarded, when Jesus comes, not according to our gifting but according to our faithfulness.
Suggested prayer: “Dear God, help me to know what my gifts are, get the training I need to sharpen them, and find a place where I can put these to best use in serving you—and thereby help make my world a better place in which to live. Thank you for hearing and answering my prayer. Gratefully, in Jesus’ name, amen.”
1. Matthew 25:22-23 (NKJV).
2. 1 Corinthians 12:21 (NIV).
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