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The divine talent search

Many feel that God has not given them any talents or anythinggood at all, while some comparing themselves

with others feel that they do not possess theability the other person has and many notunderstanding the divine purpose of theirtalents, use it to promote only themselves andtheir livelihood. Jesus in the ‘Parable of the

  Talents’ beautifully lays forth the principlesbehind this.

 

1. “For it will be like a man going on a journey, who called his servantsand entrusted to them his property.” Matthew 25:14 (ESV)

“Now after a long time the master of those servants came and settled accountswith them.” Matthew 25:19 (ESV)

Primarily, we need to understand that all what we posses is not ours but theyhave been entrusted to us by God – skills, wealth, intelligence, family, job,ministry, opportunities, etc. We are not owners but caretakers. When this truthdawns upon us we understand our RESPONSIBILITY and ACCOUNTABILITY .

“So then each of us will give an account of himself to God.” Romans 14:12 (ESV).  Jesus said, “…….on the day of judgment people will give account for everycareless word they speak” Matthew 12:36 (ESV)

 This realization makes us to be accountable to God in all that He has entrustedus - possessions, positions, people and pen & pulpits. We will neither misuse norunderuse or abuse these.

2. “To one he gave five talents, to another two, to another one, to eachaccording to his ability. Then he went away.” Matthew 25:15 (ESV)

God gives to ALL. He is not a man to be partial. In His givingHe demonstrates IMPARTIALITY . But when we feel that we are not as capableas the other person, we need to come to terms that God has given us accordingto our ABILITY . So all that we possess is not to compete, but to complement.When we understand this principle, we will not undermine anyone but willappreciate their uniqueness. If we have trouble in fulfilling our roles, we need toprayerfully analyse our ability – He has enabled me, but for WHAT?

“And I thank Christ Jesus our Lord who has enabled me, because Hecounted me faithful, putting me into the ministry, although I was formerlya blasphemer, a persecutor, and an insolent man; but I obtained mercy because Idid it ignorantly in unbelief. And the grace of our Lord was exceedinglyabundant, with faith and love which are in Christ Jesus.” (1 Timothy 1:12-14)

Author: Mariyosh J mariyoshj@gmail.com Word from The WORD

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When we realize that our abilities are God’s enablement, we would be humble,as we also realize our wretchedness and His grace that made us worthy .

3. “He who had received the five talents went at once and traded with

them, and he made five talents more. So also he who had the twotalents made two talents more. But he who had received the one talentwent and dug in the ground and hid his master's money.” Matthew25:16-18 (ESV)

 The Master after entrusting the money never gives a job description. So, how arewe to figure out what we are supposed to do? Some might say that it just takescommon sense to know & fulfil our roles. Infanticide, divorce, pornography,apartheid, casteism, etc. are all results of common sense! To the one who rightlyused the Master says, “Well done, good and faithful servant…” (Matt 25: 21a,23a); but to the one who misused, “You wicked and lazy servant…” (Matt25:26a)

What motivates our actions to be be good or wicked and us to be faithful or lazy?Knowledge of the Lord and applying His characters in our lives.

“But his master answered him, ‘You wicked and slothful servant! You knew that Ireap where I have not sown and gather where I scattered no seed? Then youought to have invested my money with the bankers, and at my coming I shouldhave received what was my own with interest.”Matthew 25:26-27 (ESV)

It is not only about knowing God, but living a Christian life where all our thoughtsand actions reflect Christ and are motivated by the truths of the Bible.

So, if we need to know what we are supposed to do with all that God hasentrusted us, we need to know Him more & more and practice His Worddaily. DIVINITY inspired PRACTICALITY .

4. “But he who had received the one talent went and dug in the groundand hid his master's money.” Matthew 25:18 (ESV)

Like this servant we too have hidden so many of all that God had entrusted to us.For some of us , it is our own personal talents that we have hid and for some it is

of those who are entrusted to us.

 The servant said, “so I was afraid, and I went and hid your talent in the ground.Here you have what is yours.’” Matthew 25:25 (ESV) Ignorance causes fear.Ignorance of God and His ways. Paul says to Timothy, “For this reason I remindyou to fan into flame the gift of God, which is in you through the laying on of myhands, for God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self-control.” 2 Timothy 1:6-7 (ESV)

Let us fling all fears and flame the gift that God has given us!

We might be hiding the gift of another person, may be our subordinate or ourown children or spouse, fearing that they might do better than us or they might

Author: Mariyosh J mariyoshj@gmail.com Word from The WORD

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be applauded or preferred over us. Let us come out all such fears toounderstanding our secure identity in Christ.

 The consequence of concealing is costly. “So take the talent from him and give itto him who has the ten talents. For to everyone who has will more be given, and

he will have an abundance. But from the one who has not, even what he has willbe taken away.” Matthew 25:28-29 (ESV) If we are trying to hide our gifts orconcealing those of others we need to beware – we will lose all that we possess.

And when we put it all to use, we will be given more. UTILISATION is the keyto EXPANSION.

5. “Now after a long time the master of those servants came andsettled accounts with them.” Matthew 25:19 (ESV)

“His master said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant. You have beenfaithful over a little; I will set you over much. Enter into the joy of yourmaster.’” Matthew 25:21 (ESV)

 Though proper utilisation bestows appreciation, here the Bible does not talkabout the earthly, but the heavenly; not the temporal, but the eternal.

Many a times we fail to exercise or act or minister either because of noappreciation or because of only depreciation. At all such times we need tounderstand that we are not supposed to seek appreciation from men but fromGod. And it is a long time of waiting!

“Henceforth there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord,the righteous judge, will award to me on that Day, and not only to me but also toall who have loved his appearing.” 2 Timothy 4:8 (ESV)

“Behold, I am coming soon, bringing my recompense with me, to repay everyonefor what he has done.” Revelation 22:12 (ESV)

Let us serve wholeheartedly (putting everything and everyone to use) not for theperishing popularity or pleasure, but for the eternal enjoyment looking forward to“enter into the joy of our Master”. Finally, as we properly utilize all that God hasgiven us there awaits appreciation that lasts for ETERNITY !

Understanding our responsibility and proving our accountability to God whoshows no impartiality and realising the utility of the ability, let our practicality beinspired and motivated not by carnality or popularity but by divinity, beingassured of the reward that lasts for eternity.

Author: Mariyosh J mariyoshj@gmail.com Word from The WORD