People can be so amazing! Athletes who break the boundaries of human endurance. A 100-member orchestra that plays complex music in perfect unison. A painter whose deft touch creates landscapes so realistic you'd think you could step right in. An eloquent preacher whose sermons captivate the congregation. A child-care worker whose calm voice quiets a screaming baby. A food service manager who makes dinner for 500 look easy. Practically everyone has some kind of remarkable ability -- if you know where to look.
It's also amazing that so many people act like they deserve the credit for their talents. It's like receiving a gift you could never have bought for yourself, then acting like it's been yours all along and ignoring the person who gave it to you!
The Scripture talks about a boss who gave his workers some money to take care of while he was gone. (Did you know the word 'talent' came from a Bible story?) Two of the workers multiplied the money; one buried it in the ground until the boss came back.
Guess which one the boss was angry with! (Matthew 25:14-30)
The Scripture also says you are God's "workmanship" (Ephesians 2:10). That's good news and bad news. The good news is that God plans to make a masterpiece out of you! The bad news is that you're going to be a marble sculpture -- and He's going to use a hammer and chisel!
To complete the masterpiece God wants to make of your life, He will have to put you through some difficult times. But He gives you the abilities you need to become everything He dreams of you being.
Your talents are a special gift from God. He gave them to you so you could complete the mission He has assigned you. When you use them the way He intends, other people will experience His love and forgiveness and their lives will be changed forever.
It's wonderful that God gave you the talents you have. The question is: Are you going to recognize Him as the who gave them to you and use them the way he wants so He can multiply them? Or are you going to take pride in your talents and offend the Creator of the Universe who gave them to you?
Celebrate your talents! Give credit where credit is due. And dedicate them to the Giver so He can use them to change the world.
Posted on
Mon, February 22, 2010
by D. James Kinnaird