What are you doing with talents and skills you have been given? Are you using them? How are you using them? Are you using them for good? Are you using them for personal gain? Are you using them to improve your community? Are you using them for the kingdom of God?
All of us have been given specific talents or skills, even if we do not think so. There are some of us who think we have no special skills, but we do. It may require us to spend a little time thinking and praying to discover them. God has given each person at least one spiritual gift.
My top three gifts are preaching, teaching, and learning. I believe this is why God called me into professional ministry. He has given me these talents and skills and wants me to use them for his purposes. Now, do think it is easy to use your own talents and skills. In my case, I am also an introvert, almost to the extreme. God put me in places to train me to overcome this hurdle so that I could become somewhat comfortable with public speaking. He may put you in places or situations so that you can overcome the hurdle in your way to use your talents.
Jesus speaks to this point in a parable. He tells of three servants who receive a portion of their master’s wealth, each of them a different amount. Two of the three immediately set out to invest and grow what they were entrusted with, and they doubled the money they were given. The third one hid what was given him to protect it. We must decide whether we are going to use what God has given us for the good of God’s kingdom and our community or hide it and waste it.
I pray we all know God has given each of us specific talents and skills. I pray we take time to identify those gifts. I pray each one of us will use our gifts for God’s kingdom and our community. God has blessed you with talents and skills. Identify God’s gifts. Use God’s gifts for his kingdom.
Matthew 25:16-18 At once the one who had received the five talents went off and traded with them and made five more talents. In the same way, the one who had the two talents made two more talents. But the one who had received the one talent went off and dug a hole in the ground and hid his master’s money.
