Using Our Talents

By Bobbi Napier

1 Peter 4:10: As each one has received a gift, minister it to one another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God.

Matthew 25:14-30:

“For the kingdom of heaven is like a man traveling to a far country, who called his own servants and delivered his goods to them. And to one he gave five talents, to another two, and to another one, to each according to his own ability; and immediately he went on a journey. Then he who had received the five talents went and traded with them, and made another five talents. And likewise he who had received two gained two more also. 18But he who had received one went and dug in the ground, and hid his lord’s money. After a long time the lord of those servants came and settled accounts with them. “So he who had received five talents came and brought five other talents, saying, ‘Lord, you delivered to me five talents; look, I have gained five more talents besides them.’ His lord said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant; you were faithful over a few things, I will make you ruler over many things. Enter into the joy of your lord.’ He also who had received two talents came and said, ‘Lord, you delivered to me two talents; look, I have gained two more talents besides them.’ His lord said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant; you have been faithful over a few things, I will make you ruler over many things. Enter into the joy of your lord.’ “Then he who had received the one talent came and said, ‘Lord, I knew you to be a hard man, reaping where you have not sown, and gathering where you have not scattered seed. And I was afraid, and went and hid your talent in the ground. Look, there you have what is yours.’ “But his lord answered and said to him, ‘You wicked and lazy servant, you knew that I reap where I have not sown, and gather where I have not scattered seed. So you ought to have deposited my money with the bankers, and at my coming I would have received back my own with interest. Therefore take the talent from him, and give it to him who has ten talents. ‘For to everyone who has, more will be given, and he will have abundance; but from him who does not have, even what he has will be taken away. And cast the unprofitable servant into the outer darkness. There will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.’

Gift – a special ability for doing something, usually implying a special favor by God.

Talent – The capacity for achievement or success. A natural ability that requires development.

In Matthew 25 talents are referring to money but the same principle can be applied here to our talents. We all have different talents and things that we are good at doing. Some of us may have 1 talent, some 5, some 10. It doesn’t matter how many we have we are to use what we do have for the glory of God, for service in His kingdom and to bring souls to Him.

Our Christian life should not be a competition of who can do what better or who has more talents or does more service for the Lord. As long as we are using our abilities God gave us and doing our very best to serve the Lord in whatever season we are in then that is what truly matters. We are all in different stages of life, some busy with high school and more dependent on our families, some busy trying to stay afloat with college, some are busy with jobs and trying to find their way in adulthood, some are in relationships or starting their marriages and building their own families or some combination of these.

What we can do now for God is different than what we can do later when we are married and busy being a mother to small children. Whatever stage we are in does not excuse us from serving God in some way, it simply changes what that service looks like.

We can’t be afraid to use our gifts or talents that God has given us. Whatever they may be we should be using them for service in the kingdom and to win souls. Even when we are fearful we have to trust God, have courage and try anyway.

We are supposed to use our God given abilities but there is a movement and push from the world to do what we want, be who want and act how we want but that is not what God wants. God wants us to use the talents he gave us in accordance to God’s word.

The world today is pushing feminism but the Bible clearly tells us that the feminist idea the world pushes is wrong and clearly contradicts the Bible.

The feminist movement tries to say that those who follow the bible are saying that women are not equal to men. They push that women should do all the same things, have all the same powers and even be higher than the men.

We find in the Bible that Christ Is head of the church, man is head of the house and the wife is to submit to him. Does this mean that they are not equal in God’s eyes? No, we are all loved and valued just the same but both men and women have certain God given roles they should follow.

Feminism says that women can work outside the home and neglect their God given roles as keepers at home. Feminism says that we as women have no responsibility to be modest in our dress and in our attitudes. We know that it is just as much our job to keep our Christian brothers from stumbling as it is their job to control their thoughts.

Men are to be the spiritual leaders of their home and lead their family to Heaven. Now let’s look at the woman’s role. Women are to be keepers at home. A help meet to her husband and care for her children. This does not mean a woman can never work outside the home, there are some situations where it is necessary, but they do need to be careful they still have time to care for their families.

The world pushes that women can lead in worship and do other things in the Church that are only meant for a man to do according to God’s word.

Now let’s look at talents woman can use in the church.

Women can teach Bible classes for children

Teach teen girls

Teach ladies classes or speak at ladies days

Older women are instructed to teach the younger women

Woman who excel at organizing can help organize ladies days or other events.

Those who are good at cooking or baking can cook for ladies days, fellowship meals, lectureships, shut ins, those who just had a baby or just those who need encouragement.

Those who are good at decorating and cleaning can decorate for ladies days, VBS and other events and help clean and prepare the building.

Women can order the flowers for sick or funerals, they can organize sending cards or organize meal trains

They can write articles for women, books or do online Bible studies.

They can write encouraging notes or cards or simply speak encouraging words

They can teach others by example through living a Christian life and shining their lights to the world

Make communion bread and prepare the Lord’s supper

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In conclusion we are to use our talents that we are given for the good of the kingdom and follow our God given roles as women. We are to be thankful for what talents we have and not compare ourselves to others. Let’s build each other up and not compete or tear each other down.

Now I challenge you to think about one good thing you can do each day for the kingdom using your talents.