Double Your Gifts And Talents

I have always been fascinated by Jesus’ Parables. They reveal wisdom on multiple levels. One of my favourites is the ‘Parable of the Talents’ told by Jesus in Matthew 25:14-30. In that parable Jesus tells a story of a rich man going on a journey who entrusts different amounts of money (talents) to three different servants.

When the rich man returns, he asks for an accounting of how each servant has used the money. The servant with five talents and the servant with two talents have both worked hard and doubled their money. The servant with just one talent hides his money and earns nothing extra with it.

What talents and gifts has God given you? How are you using what God has given you? What gift or talent do you possess that is your personal strength? Are you growing that gift or talent? Or have you stopped growing the gifts and talents that God has given you?

I come from a musical family, so most of my siblings have strong musical gifts that they have developed over the years. Some families are athletic and they distinguish themselves in that field. Some are good writers or great cooks. Some have strong abilities with finance, leadership, service, counselling, craftsmanship, mercy, prayer and wisdom. There are dozens of gifts that God gives us.

The first step in developing your gifts and talents is to recognize what they are. What do you love to do even if no one is paying you? There is a great ‘Spiritual Gifts Test’ found online at http://www.kodachrome.org/spiritgift/refer.htm that I highly recommend.

I took the test and some of my top gifts are Music, Administration, Writing, Faith, Leadership and Teaching. What are yours? Since I have recognized that these are areas that I have gifts in, I am working on growing in each of these areas. I want to be a faithful servant with the gifts and talents God has entrusted to me. I want to see my gifts grow and double like the servants in Jesus’ parable.

Question: How are you using your gifts and talents? Are you working on doubling them? Will God say to you, “Well done, you good and faithful servant?” Don’t wait, start today!

Paul: In His grace, God has given us different gifts for doing certain things well. So if God has given you the ability to prophesy, speak out with as much faith as God has given you.  If your gift is serving others, serve them well. If you are a teacher, teach well.  If your gift is to encourage others, be encouraging. If it is giving, give generously. If God has given you leadership ability, take the responsibility seriously. And if you have a gift for showing kindness to others, do it gladly. ~ Romans 12:6-6 NLT

Check out my new book: “Leading Worship ~ Notes from a Grand Adventure’. It is now available in Kindle or Soft Cover Editions.  This is a great gift for the musician or worshipper in your life.