Giving God Your Best

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Hidden Gifts, Wasted Talents

by Dr. Paul Chappell

“And another came, saying, Lord, behold, here is thy pound, which I have kept laid up in a napkin: For I feared thee, because thou art an austere man: thou takest up that thou layedst not down, and reapest that thou didst not sow.”
Luke 19:20–21
Isidore Baline was born in Russia in 1888 and moved to the United States with his family in 1893, where he was given the name Irving Berlin. Living in abject poverty in New York City, every member of the family, including the children, were expected to work to contribute to their survival. The young boy had little formal education and spent his early years on the streets. In his free time he taught himself to play the piano though he could only play in one key and never learned to read music. Over the next sixty years, Irving Berlin wrote some 1,500 songs, including “God Bless America,” and became one of the most famous and influential songwriters in American history.
All of us have reasons and excuses not to use the talents and abilities God has given to us. The temptation is to hope that someone else will step forward so that we will not have to put forward the effort and exertion to accomplish what needs to be done. But failing to use what we have cheats both God’s work and our own lives. The gifts and resources that we have are not there by accident. God has a plan for us to put them to use in His work.
“For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them” (Ephesians 2:10). No one else is as qualified to do for God the things He has ordained for you as you are. He knew before you were born what He wanted you to do, and purposely equipped you for those tasks. Do not bury the talents and gifts He trusted you to use.

Today’s Growth Principle: 

Don’t rob others and yourself of blessings by hiding the talents God has given to you—use them!

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There was a man sent from God, whose name was John. He came as a witness, to bear witness about the light, that all might believe through him. He was not the light, but came to bear witness about the light.   --John 1:6-8 As believers, you and I can learn so much from God’s man, John the Baptist. He was sent from God to introduce Christ to the world. And in just the same way, you and I are to be witnesses… to introduce men, women, boys, and girls to faith in Jesus Christ before He comes again. Now, a witness is someone who steps aside, someone who gets out of the spotlight, someone who removes themselves from the scene. And a witness for Christ is someone does nothing but point others to Christ. That’s what John the Baptizer did. He was willing for his great life to be eclipsed by the greater life of Christ. He was willing to say, “I’m not the light, but Jesus Christ is the light.” John the Baptist was a passionate and powerful witness for Jesus Christ. Now let me ask you, are you a passionate and powerful witness for Jesus Christ? If not, why not? Today, it’s my prayer that you would understand God’s call on your life to be a witness in this generation for Jesus Christ… like John the Baptist was for his generation. Live your life in such a way that you point people to the one true Savior… Jesus! You and I are to introduce men, women, boys, and girls to faith in Jesus Christ before He comes again.