Secret Weapons

Gifts and talents are our secret weapons to show God's love toward others.
As we go through the week trying to steal a little time away for a couple things we love to do, keep in mind why we have those gifts and enjoyments to begin with. I've been inspired/prodded by the story of the talents in Matthew 25:14-29. Each servant is given a share to use and invest and return to the master. Its ironic to see the translation for "talents" as money and realize the "talents" and gifts God has given us for the same purpose. Nice hint for the English language a number of years later.Matthew 25:14-29 14 "Again, it will be like a man going on a journey, who called his servants and entrusted his property to them. 15 To one he gave five talents of money, to another two talents, and to another one talent, each according to his ability. Then he went on his journey. 16 The man who had received the five talents went at once and put his money to work and gained five more. 17 So also, the one with the two talents gained two more. 18 But the man who had received the one talent went off, dug a hole in the ground and hid his master's money. 19 "After a long time the master of those servants returned and settled accounts with them. 20 The man who had received the five talents brought the other five. 'Master,' he said, 'you entrusted me with five talents. See, I have gained five more.' 21 "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!' 22 "The man with the two talents also came. 'Master,' he said, 'you entrusted me with two talents; see, I have gained two more.' 23 "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!' 24 "Then the man who had received the one talent 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. 25 So I was afraid and went out and hid your talent in the ground. See, here is what belongs to you.' 26 "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? 27 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. 28 "'Take the talent from him and give it to the one who has the ten talents. 29 For everyone who has will be given more, and he will have an abundance. Whoever does not have, even what he has will be taken from him.

In the modern American culture we have somehow labeled our gifts and talents as "hobbies" and set them aside for our own enjoyment when we have spare time. Think of the last time you talked to someone about their gifts and passions. Did you see how excited and lit up they were? That kind of excitement draws people like nothing else. Now imagine if God's people used their gifts, talents, and passions to glorify Christ in everyday life. Can you see what a difference that would make to a generation who looks at screens all day in search of true "life" and "passion."

OK, by now you have thought of that gift you have used, but don't much any more. Or maybe its that gift that doesn't fit the mold of "church service." Well write it down and think through how you can use it to glorify Christ (today and tomorrow). I was trying to figure out how I could make woodworking glorify God and realized it already has. Not on my own effort, but God has used it in my life to connect to people I may not have, and encourage people with personal gifts. I'm still figuring how to use biking...(not riding much now anyway). I've found gifts like music are easier to use, but I've also easily passed by the connections with others that it brings. I know some gifts are easier to use at church etc., but God does tend to use the smallest overlooked things to build his kingdom. That one small enjoyment you get out of something may be the very key to leading someone to eternal life.

Try writing down some of your gifts, talents, passions, hobbies...whatever they are...and how you can use them to glorify God. It may be as simple as sharing a common interest with someone at work and developing a friendship that God may use. Or, it may be a life goal that has been on the back burner to long. So dust it off and invest that talent. Be daring and share it with someone and see how God uses it.

So what are yours and how will you invest them?

On A Mission,
Devin Allison