Using Your Talents Wisely?
You and I each have some special talent or giftings. Yes, you do!
“When I die and God asks, ‘What have you done with the talent I gave you?’ I would love to tell Him I used it all up.” This powerful statement was made by artist Doug Quarles, who with wife Sharon, have painted 50-plus murals. They live in the small town of Tucumcari, New Mexico. 1
What have you or I done with our talent? Have we shared it? Used it to benefit others? Or put it down and let it go to waste? A hard-hitting question, no doubt. When God formed each of us in the womb, He knew what DNA He was depositing in us.
“Even before we were born, God planned in advance our destiny and the good works we would do to fulfill it!” (Ephesians 2:10b TPT)
Have you ever looked at someone else–say an accomplished pianist–and said to yourself, “Wow, I wish I had her talent.” Or heard an eloquent speech and compared yourself unfavorably to that great orator?
Well, somewhere along life’s journey most of us have either envied someone’s talent or compared our talent as “lesser than” yet never stopping to be thankful for ones the Lord deposited in us. For our natural abilities. For His favor bestowed on us.
How do we define talent? Oh, you know, it’s that special something we do that we are passionate about. It seems to come naturally. We have a bent for it. Yes, we must often work at improving our talents—our innate ones.
Consider this Biblical word: “Whatever your hand finds to do, do it with all your might.” (Ecclesiastes 9:10a NKJV)
While God gave Moses plans for the construction and furnishings of the tent known as the Tabernacle of Meeting, He also named individuals with certain talents to use for specific tasks. Gifted artisans. For example, He said of Bezalel, “And I have filled him with the Spirit of God, in wisdom, in understanding, in knowledge… to design artistic work… to work in all manner of workmanship.” (Exodus 31:3-5 NKJV) Some translations say “craftsmanship.”
Maybe some of us need to repent for our lack of proper use of our talent. Perhaps others need to begin to practice using their talents again. Still others may want to pray for more opportunity to use theirs to help and bless other people.
Our family was once active in a church where members used their talents to do exactly that. We registered our talent at the church office and when someone in the congregation needed help, a volunteer responded. Talents shared varied from carpentry to bread baking, from decorating homes to financially astute members helping widows with income tax forms.
Pastor Rick Warren wrote that there were 7,000 of his Saddleback Church members using their skills to help others, providing every kind of service you can imagine. He said new members are told, “Whatever you’re good at, you should be doing for your church.” Here are some he listed:
“Repairing donated cars to be given to the needy; finding the best deal for church purchases; landscaping; organizing files; designing art, programs and buildings; providing health care; preparing meals; composing songs; teaching music; writing grant proposals; coaching teams; doing research for sermons or translating them; and hundreds of other specialized tasks.”2
Why not look around and see if there is a need nearby where you can put your talent and skill to good use.3
Prayer: Father God, thank You for the talents You have given me. Help me use them wisely to help and encourage others and bring glory to You. Please show me those I need to reach. I ask in the name of Jesus, Amen.
Scriptures: Care for one another. (I Corinthians 12:15). Serve one another. (Galatians 5:13)
For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand so that we would walk in them. (Ephesians 2:10 NASB).
Footnotes:
- Article by Stephanie Thompson in Guideposts, Danbury, CT., Aug/Sept. 2021, pages 22-23.
- Rick Warren, blog for July 16, 2014, http://pastors.com/kingdom-builders-2/.
- See my book Cast Your Shadow: Influence on Purpose. Available on Amazon.
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