Matthew 25:29

For unto every one that hath shall be given, and he shall have abundance: but from him that hath not shall be taken away even that which he hath.

It hard for me to even type these realities, but doing so probably is as much therapy for myself than anyone else. Most of us aren’t going to be single digit handicappers. Most of us aren’t even going to regularly break 80. Most of us will die before we get that allusive hole in one. Many of us cannot sing, but we all can produce a joyful sound unto the Lord. Many of us don’t have the ability to speak in public, but we all can witness to a lost friend. Most of us aren’t led to pastor a church, but we all can be spiritual leaders within our household. All believers are granted spiritual talents from above. A responsibility is attached to each of these talents.

We cannot pick and choose which talents we are given. I have no problem speaking in public. The more people present, the more comfortable I become. However, I would be lying if I said I never wanted the ability to belt out in song while playing a musical instrument. I have the “guitar faces” down pat, but the notes and chords are a different story. God knows if I had a musical talent, I would be in a Nashville “honky tonk” looking for a record deal. He couldn’t trust me with it.

We all have a desire to ascertain what talents we possess so we can utilize them to the best of our ability to uplift the name and power of our Savior Jesus Christ. The talents we are given by God are extraordinary gifts. They are not average or just enough to get by. When He bestows something within us, it is given in abundance. It is up to us how we utilize and allow the gift to mature and progress. God can give us a musical gift, but if we fail to use it or practice this gift, it will be either be taken away or not allowed to prosper.

We possess our gifts and talents, but are not to covet them. These spiritual gifts are not our own. Matthew Henry aptly wrote that we have nothing that we can call our own, except for sin. The lost feel we serve a God who cannot be pleased by no fault of our own as it is our nature to sin. Henry wrote these people dislike both the character and the work of the Lord. Accordingly, the lost do not regard the spiritual talents and gifts as being given by God. The Christian, however, considers it a privilege to employ a spiritual talent in the service of Savior. We know it is He who gives in abundance and not just the base or entry model.