For many years I have heard the phrase thundered from pulpits, “Use your talents for the Lord,” to which I replied (in my head, of course), “AMEN!” Also, in my head was the thought, “Those people who have talent—they ought to use it for the Lord.” The rest of us—well, we need to just start stacking chairs because even the untalented can serve the Lord.
I envied those who could sing or play a musical instrument. What a blessed gift these individuals have to offer the rest of humanity! As I grew older, I realized that there were other talented people who could neither sing nor play an instrument. They had great personalities and could talk to any person they happened to meet. I envied those people as well. What a tremendous opportunity they had to share the gospel and to testify of God’s goodness!
I told myself that this exhortation from the pulpit did not apply to me. I did not have talents as those other people had. I certainly could not sing or play an instrument. I could carry on awkward conversations, at best. Hence, that meant that I was off of the hook. I thought in relief, “Phew! No Talents=No Responsibilities.”
Then one day, I heard a message from Matthew 25. I am not really sure I remember what the preacher was saying or what his eloquently spoken words were. I do not know if his outline was alliterated or not. All I heard after the text verse was read was the conversation that God and I were having during the service. Of course, Satan was there too, trying to put in his two cents, and it was not even worth that much.
Before reading the next part, please bear with me as I issue a small disclaimer. For all of those who might be afraid that I am crazy because I said that I heard God speak, I must clarify that I do not mean that He audibly spoke to me. This is merely the lesson that God impressed on my heart.
God: So, Krystal, what are you doing with the talents I’ve given you?
Satan: Ha! What talents?
Me: Yeah…What talents?
God: Does the Bible say the master gave any of his servants NO TALENTS?
Me: Um…
God: Talents are more than singing, playing instruments, or speaking in front of others.
Me: Um…
God: So, I ask again: What are you doing with the talents that I have given you?
I will admit that it was hard to come up with the answer to that question. Before I could answer that question, I needed to answer the question, “What talents do I have?”
That question yielded responses such as:
“I’m kind of good at this, but that’s not a real talent. That’s just an acquired skill.”
“I’m good at that, but that’s not anything God could actually use.”
Then one day at work, my manager said something that tied all of this together in my mind. As we discussed different employee situations, he kept referring to their strengths as being their “gifts.” “This roofer may not be good at communicating,” he said, “but did you see the work he does with his hands? That is his gift from God. He uses his gift to profit the company. The company then pays the employees, and the employees tithe to the work of God. I know your church is a soulwinning church. That roofer’s ability is to fix a leaking roof, and by tithing from his income, he spreads the Gospel around the world.”
It occurred to me that my strengths, abilities, and skills are talents that God has given me. How could I think that those skills are useless in the Lord’s work? My resume is nothing more than a testimony of God’s goodness and favor in my life. If I have learned anything at all, it is because God placed me under a capable teacher. If I possess any knowledge, it is because God gave me a brain that is capable of processing that information. Any achievement in my life is because God provided me with an opportunity. It is not of myself; it is all a gift of God.
A few months later, my pastor was talking about a certain ministry in our church. I had felt that God wanted me to be a part of that ministry over twenty years ago, but I was neglecting the gifts that God had given me. I was listening to Satan’s words when he would tell me, “You’re not good enough. There are so many people more talented than you. You can’t compare to them.” Is it not incredibly wicked of us to listen to Satan? To say that our talents, no matter what they might be, are insignificant is to say God’s gifts are inadequate. We become like a spoiled child with an ungrateful attitude! I eventually quit listening to Satan and joined that ministry.
God gave us the talents we have so that we can serve Him. God never gives us a talent for us to neglect or hide from His service. We see in I Timothy 4:14 that Paul instructed Timothy to Neglect not the gift that is in thee,… We should also look at EVERYTHING God has given us as a means to serve Him. If the Lord blesses us with musical ability, then we should sing or play for the Lord. If the Lord blesses us with wealth, we should use it to fund the cause of Christ. If the Lord blesses us with intelligence, we should use it to learn and to teach God’s Word.
If God can use a donkey, a whale, or a raven, then God can take whatever ability we have, transform it, and use it to help someone else. It is the gift He has given to us so that we can serve others. The only way He cannot use it is if we keep it hidden away and neglect the gift that is in us. Whatever abilities, skills, or talents God has given us, we ought to strengthen and use to serve Him.
by Krystal Salm
