The President's Blog for June 19, 2009 --"Utilizing the Gifts and Talents 1"
Utilizing the Gifts and Talents 1
Some weeks ago I shared with you a precursor to this article dealing with the identification of spiritual gifts, their use and necessity from a biblical perspective. The response/reaction was most encouraging and informative. Thanks for your contribution. In today’s update, I seek to approach the topic of spiritual gifts from a practical perspective.
Availing Myself to the Gift(s)
As already noted, every one is endowed with at least one gift, talent or ability. However, I believe that there are other gifts that lie dormant needing cultivation and honing. One with the gift of discernment can usually detect what may not be visible to the “naked eye.” Nevertheless, discernment is but one step, for equally important is the need of an individual to avail him or herself to the opportunities presented. And what better place than in your local church to get started? Have you considered that some of the greatest medical personnel, teachers, singers and speakers got their start in church in some youth meeting, Pathfinder Club, Sabbath or Sunday school, or at their elementary school? With Youth Day as well as the necessity to find teachers weekly for Sabbath School, many a talent has developed; and persons are benefitting financially and otherwise.
As I move around, persons tell me about their past involvement in the Pathfinder Club as well as other areas that gave them a start or instilled confidence. Unfortunately, when persons are reluctant to avail themselves, choosing to turn down opportunity after opportunity, saying, “I cannot do it –people will laugh at me,” or “John is better at this, check him out,” they fail to cultivate potentials. It is possible that some of you reading this understand what I am attempting to explain. I can think of a dozen persons right now who seldom got involved, but with the establishment of new congregations, such persons have amazed themselves and others. They are doing what they never thought would happen –playing the piano, doing the weekly bulletin, serving as Sabbath school superintendents, or leading out in Youth meetings.
Availing Self Yields Dividends
Now today, with such involvement and exposure, these persons are holding top and responsible positions in the church and in society locally and overseas. In fact, some own businesses and are applying skills and knowledge acquired from Pathfinder and Masterguide clubs. Some have even acquired an added language through missionary service in a foreign land. Some have taken on a spouse because of the direction the gift, talent and /or ability took them.
What is the Point?
Referencing the Adult Sabbath School Lesson of Sunday, June 7, 2009, the author, in speaking on the parable of the Talents, makes four salient points that should be digested by each Christian parent and every individual:
Reality number one: We all have talents. No one is left without some talent. That is the first truth Jesus wanted to impress upon His disciples.
Reality number two: We do not all have the same number of talents. It is a fact of life that we will have to accept. Some people are gifted in many ways while others are not so multitalented. Those who have several talents should never look down upon others who have fewer talents. Jesus' point is clear: The quantity of our talents is not the most important; what we do with whatever we have been given is what matters.
Reality number three: Some refuse to use their talents. Some never recognize the talents they have. Sadly, no one reminded them of their gifts. Or they did realize their gifts but, for a variety of reasons, refused to invest any energy in developing them.
Reality number four: Not using your talents is serious business. The "worthless servant" gets no second chance. He is thrown "into the darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth" (Matt.25:30, NIV)—the symbolic description of the utter nothingness of eternal death. Not using what God has entrusted to us not only impairs us in this life but jeopardizes our eternal life. This means that the issue of being faithful stewards is not something that belongs to the periphery of our Christian experience—it is the vital characteristic of discipleship.
Recessions May Bring out Talents beneath the Surface
Has it occurred to you that the present economic meltdown may be the catalyst that God uses to bring out of us that creativeness He placed there, but prior to now there was no need to cultivate and nurture that gift as everything was going well? Now that the security of the job is gone and bills are piling up, we are forced to look within and explore what potentials God had already placed there. We may be pleasantly surprised to discover some unused talents..
Thought to Ponder:
So often is the church criticized? Have you considered that if it were not for the thousands of church officers, who conduct, sponsor and run ministries, what state our world would be in? Yes, there is room for improvement, but imagine if these persons were not into serving and allowing the use of their talents, our city would be worse off.
Bahamas Academy needs your Support!
Roof is being constructed –started on Tuesday
Praise God!
Some weeks ago I shared with you a precursor to this article dealing with the identification of spiritual gifts, their use and necessity from a biblical perspective. The response/reaction was most encouraging and informative. Thanks for your contribution. In today’s update, I seek to approach the topic of spiritual gifts from a practical perspective.
Availing Myself to the Gift(s)
As already noted, every one is endowed with at least one gift, talent or ability. However, I believe that there are other gifts that lie dormant needing cultivation and honing. One with the gift of discernment can usually detect what may not be visible to the “naked eye.” Nevertheless, discernment is but one step, for equally important is the need of an individual to avail him or herself to the opportunities presented. And what better place than in your local church to get started? Have you considered that some of the greatest medical personnel, teachers, singers and speakers got their start in church in some youth meeting, Pathfinder Club, Sabbath or Sunday school, or at their elementary school? With Youth Day as well as the necessity to find teachers weekly for Sabbath School, many a talent has developed; and persons are benefitting financially and otherwise.
As I move around, persons tell me about their past involvement in the Pathfinder Club as well as other areas that gave them a start or instilled confidence. Unfortunately, when persons are reluctant to avail themselves, choosing to turn down opportunity after opportunity, saying, “I cannot do it –people will laugh at me,” or “John is better at this, check him out,” they fail to cultivate potentials. It is possible that some of you reading this understand what I am attempting to explain. I can think of a dozen persons right now who seldom got involved, but with the establishment of new congregations, such persons have amazed themselves and others. They are doing what they never thought would happen –playing the piano, doing the weekly bulletin, serving as Sabbath school superintendents, or leading out in Youth meetings.
Availing Self Yields Dividends
Now today, with such involvement and exposure, these persons are holding top and responsible positions in the church and in society locally and overseas. In fact, some own businesses and are applying skills and knowledge acquired from Pathfinder and Masterguide clubs. Some have even acquired an added language through missionary service in a foreign land. Some have taken on a spouse because of the direction the gift, talent and /or ability took them.
What is the Point?
Referencing the Adult Sabbath School Lesson of Sunday, June 7, 2009, the author, in speaking on the parable of the Talents, makes four salient points that should be digested by each Christian parent and every individual:
Reality number one: We all have talents. No one is left without some talent. That is the first truth Jesus wanted to impress upon His disciples.
Reality number two: We do not all have the same number of talents. It is a fact of life that we will have to accept. Some people are gifted in many ways while others are not so multitalented. Those who have several talents should never look down upon others who have fewer talents. Jesus' point is clear: The quantity of our talents is not the most important; what we do with whatever we have been given is what matters.
Reality number three: Some refuse to use their talents. Some never recognize the talents they have. Sadly, no one reminded them of their gifts. Or they did realize their gifts but, for a variety of reasons, refused to invest any energy in developing them.
Reality number four: Not using your talents is serious business. The "worthless servant" gets no second chance. He is thrown "into the darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth" (Matt.25:30, NIV)—the symbolic description of the utter nothingness of eternal death. Not using what God has entrusted to us not only impairs us in this life but jeopardizes our eternal life. This means that the issue of being faithful stewards is not something that belongs to the periphery of our Christian experience—it is the vital characteristic of discipleship.
Recessions May Bring out Talents beneath the Surface
Has it occurred to you that the present economic meltdown may be the catalyst that God uses to bring out of us that creativeness He placed there, but prior to now there was no need to cultivate and nurture that gift as everything was going well? Now that the security of the job is gone and bills are piling up, we are forced to look within and explore what potentials God had already placed there. We may be pleasantly surprised to discover some unused talents..
Thought to Ponder:
So often is the church criticized? Have you considered that if it were not for the thousands of church officers, who conduct, sponsor and run ministries, what state our world would be in? Yes, there is room for improvement, but imagine if these persons were not into serving and allowing the use of their talents, our city would be worse off.
Bahamas Academy needs your Support!
Roof is being constructed –started on Tuesday
Praise God!
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