01 Jul One Talent – May Be Enough! by Jeannie Ware
I’ve read the parable of the “talents” from Matthew 25:14-30 many, many times – like I’m sure you have.“For the kingdom of heaven is like a man traveling to a far country, who called his own servants and delivered his goods to them. And to one he gave 5 talents, to another 2, and to another 1, to each according to his own ability; and immediately he went on a journey.” v.14-15
This passage is preached many times with the assumption that the talents were coins, or measures of money – but what if the talent was just that – a talent, a knack, a skill, or an expertise?
We know the servant with 5 turned it into 10, and the servant with 2 turned it into 4, and both were told “Well done, good and faithful servant…enter into the joy of the Lord.” v.21 and 23
But, one day, while reading it, it dawned on me… why didn’t the guy with the 1 talent just DO something with it? What was his real problem? Was he jealous? Was he insecure? Did he not understand what was expected of him?
Then, I realized that we have churches filled with men and women that just have 1 talent. They think their 1 talent isn’t useful to the body of Christ. They think their 1 talent is insignificant to God and to us in the church. They think their 1 talent is meaningless among people that have so many talents. And, instead of asking God how they can BE of significance…they bury what they do have and are called “wicked and lazy” – v.26
You see, God (the man) doesn’t judge according to how much was given in the first place – He judges according to what we (the servants) DO with what we have been given! Maybe that 1 talent can be used in a life-group by encouraging someone, or greeting and giving a hug to new people at the door of the church. Maybe that 1 talent can be used to call people, welcome them with a smile, or pray with them at church. Maybe that 1 talent is to deliver a meal to a new mother or family in need. The list goes on, and on, and on.
And what about the other 2 guys that DID know what to do with their talents…why didn’t they help the guy that didn’t know what to do? If we, as leaders in the church, see people that are struggling because they feel insignificant, or meaningless, or “less than”…shouldn’t we come along side of them and encourage them in their 1 talent? Maybe it’s our responsibility and it’s OUR talent to show them how to invest their 1 talent wisely into the body of Christ.
Ephesians 4:12 “for the equipping of the saints for the work of service, to the building up of the body of Christ.”
We’ve got to do it (invest our own talents wisely), AND, we’ve got the responsibility to teach others how to take their talents – MANY OR FEW – and use them and invest them wisely into the kingdom of God, We’re giving Him (God – the Master) a return on His investment into is us (His servants).
We ALL want to hear the words, “Well done, good and faithful servant, you have been faithful over a few things, I will make you ruler over many things. Enter into the joy of your Lord.”
Even the one talent may be enough to hear the words “Well done”!
Jeanne Ware
Victory Church
Westminster, CO
Founding Pastor’s wife and Director of Victory Women