God-Given Talent

Lessons

Every week when one of my Brothers in this Church asks me to speak the following Sunday I begin my week with prayer. I always ask God what he would like me to talk about and what lesson should I try and deliver to his people.

This past Tuesday, I stopped at my local watering-hole on my way home to unwind from the busy day at work. I struck-up a conversation with a friend regarding an issue I had been facing and the reasons I was so adamant in my beliefs. She, very courteously, listened and nodded her head as if she may or may not agree with me and then went on her way.

I finished my last few sips of beer, paid my tab and left to head for home. I stood outside for a moment, enjoying the warmth of the Sun, looking up at the blue sky and suddenly realized I had my answer… my response from God. I pointed to the Sun, winked at Him and simply said… gotcha, thank you!

My research into the Bible had begun… I am a HUGE believer in God-Given Talent and I’d like to talk about that this morning.

Our awesome God created everyone with unique abilities and talents to help serve our brothers and sisters in Christ. Sometimes we’re not even aware of the talents that we’re given by God until we run into different struggles in life.

Give God thanks for all He has given you. Your talent can be your special personality, your ability to give kind words, musical ability, determination in life, giving, preaching, wisdom, compassion, teaching skills, charisma, communication skills, or anything you’re good at.

Use it or lose it! He gave them to you for a reason. How are you using your talents to glorify God?

What does the Bible say about these gifts?

  1. Corinthians 12:7-11 To each is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good. For to one is given through the Spirit the utterance of wisdom, and to another the utterance of knowledge according to the same Spirit, to another faith by the same Spirit, to another the gift of healing by the one Spirit, to another the working of miracles, to another prophecy, to another the ability to distinguish between spirits, to another various kinds of tongues, to another the interpretation of tongues. All these are empowered by one and the same Spirit, who apportions to each one individually as he wills.

What does all this mean? Be good at what you do and do it every day!

  • Good Listener (bar-tender, close friend, sibling or parent)
  • Good Speaker (teacher, preacher, motivator)
  • An Artist (painter, sculptor, poet or photographer)
  • A Musician or Song-Writer
  • Good with Children (Nanny, baby-sitter, nursery school attendant)
  • Caretaker (doctor, nurse, live-in caretaker)

Romans backs me up here…

Romans 12:6-8 In his grace, God has given us different gifts for doing certain things well. So, if God has given you the ability to prophesy, speak out with as much faith as God has given you. If your gift is serving others, serve them well. If you are a teacher, teach well. If your gift is to encourage others, be encouraging. If it is giving, give generously. If God has given you leadership ability, take the responsibility seriously. And if you have a gift for showing kindness to others, do it gladly.

We have to be careful and not waste the gift that God has given us. Don’t let your God-Given talents simply collect dust as you toil through life wasting time on what “Man” believes is the way to live…

Serve the Lord

  1. Colossians 3:23-24 Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men, knowing that from the Lord you will receive the inheritance as your reward. You are serving the Lord Christ.
  2. Romans 12:11 Never be lazy, but work hard and serve the Lord enthusiastically.

Be careful… and remain humble!

  1. 1 Corinthians 4:7 Who says you are better than others? What do you have that was not given to you? And if it was given to you, why do you brag as if you did not receive it as a gift?
  2. James 4:6 But God gives us even more grace, as the Scripture says, “God is against the proud, but he gives grace to the humble.”

 

 

Quotes from Life

  • When I stand before God at the end of my life, I would hope that I would not have a single bit of talent left, and could say, ‘I used everything you gave me’. Erma Bombeck (American Humorist)
  • “How could we enjoy heaven if during our lifetime we had used most of our time, treasure, and talents for ourselves and our select group?” Daniel Fuller (Son of radio evangelist Charles E. Fuller)
  • “If you have money, power, and status today, it is due to the century and place in which you were born, to your talents and capacities and health, none of which you earned. In short, all your resources are in the end the gift of God.” Tim Keller (Noted American Pastor and author of the best-selling The Reason for God: Belief in an Age of Skepticism)
  • “The greatest and best talent that God gives to any man or woman in this world is the talent of prayer.” Reverend Alexander Whyte as a Scottish divine)
  • If we did all the things we are capable of, we would literally astound ourselves. Thomas A. Edison
  • The saddest thing in life is wasted talent.
  • Your talent is God’s gift to you. What you do with it is your gift back to God. Leo Buscaglia (American author and motivation speaker)