Using Your Talents for God

I recently heard someone ask this question, “Are people in highly visible positions of ministry more important to God than the rest of us?”

Of course, we all would say the answer to that is a firm “no.” But we must admit there are times when it might appear that way to the casual observer.

As I thought about the question I was reminded of the parable of the talents in Matthew 25. The story goes that the first two servants were entrusted with a specific amount and told to care for it in the master’s absence. They both took the responsibility seriously and were able to return a profit to the master. The third servant was entrusted with a specific amount as well but was afraid and hid what he had instead of using it for the master’s good.

As I thought about that story and about the question I had heard I came to the conclusion that the story could answer the question. I realized that it really doesn’t matter what we are called to do. It only matters if we are faithful to do it. In the story, the master was just as pleased with the servant that he gave the two talents to as he was with the one he gave five talents. Because they were faithful with what he gave them. The only one he was displeased with was the one who hid the talent and didn’t do anything at all for the master’s gain.

We don’t all have to be  in highly visibly ministries to be valuable to God. We only need to be faithful with what He has entrusted to us, no matter how large or small that may seem to us. What He doesn’t want is for us to allow fear to paralyze us  and keep us for being useful for furthering His kingdom.

We’ve all been given something to do for God. We have all received our own allotment of talents. It’s what we do with them that counts.

What has God entrusted to you?

Romans 12:6-8 Having gifts that differ according to the grace given to us, let us use them: if prophecy, in proportion to our faith; if service, in our serving; the one who teaches, in his teaching; the one who exhorts, in his exhortation; the one who contributes, in generosity; the one who leads, with zeal; the one who does acts of mercy, with cheerfulness.