A few months ago I was talking with a friend about giving time to help others — in my case writers — and what it’s like to mentor people.
I said something like, “Yea, we have to share out talent”
Truth hit me like a shot.
The parable of the talents, the one Jesus told, is not about money. Or profit, though those are good things, it’s about sharing.
It’s about not being stingy!
The servant with five talents went out and shared, used his gifts to help others. Maybe he build a business and employ people.
The servant with two talents did the same. Put his gifting and calling to work. Maybe he volunteered for the worship team. Or coached little league football.
But the servant with one talents said, “I’m burying this thing because if I use my gift to help others, they might do better than me. And my master is pretty exacting and he’ll want to know why I didn’t do anything for myself.”
It’s a wrong, selfish mentality. Stingy.
The parable about the talents is about not being stingy.
We think our talents are for ourselves. But aren’t they every bit as much about others?
We have to use whatever talent God has given us encourage people. Help our family, friends and neighbors… give of ourselves and believe the Lord will repay!
Jesus shared. He gave not just His talents but His very life.
How can we not mentor new writers, or a new mom, or help a neighbor move to a new place?
The rebuke to the servant who buried his talent was that he was fearful and selfish.
Our calling as lovers of Jesus is to open our hearts, to share, to give what we can, when we can, so that the Lord can breath life on our talent and bring fruit to all of us.
Comments 2
So, so true Rachel. I JUST finished praying with my daughter for the Lord to send someone to mentor her in her gift of photography and editing. And I have been praying for the team that God will join to me (and I to them) to pursue telling His stories in all the media He has gifted me, trained me and continues to train me in.
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Agreeing with your prayer, Regina!