Making the most of our Talents; by Pastor Dave

“This is to my Father’s glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples.”
John 15: 8
Matthew 25: 14-30
 
‘Speculate to accumulate,’ says a friend of mine, is a principle we see in the Parable of the Talents. My friend, now a Priest, but in a former life a Trader on London’s Stock exchange, explains how experimental investment is made with the hope of gain. In the parable a Master entrusts his servants, according to their ability, with varying amounts of talents,* as he absents himself on a journey. The intent is implicit, the servants are to put their talents to work for the Master’s profit; they are to speculate to accumulate. Two successfully gain more talents, one buries his talent in fear. The Master returns and rewards the profitable servants with praise and more talents; the fearful servant is chastised and cast from his Master’s presence.
     God endows us all with gifts; talents. We are not equal in ability but we can be equal in faith and action. God blesses us through His Son and Holy Spirit, He bestows upon us His wisdom, His Word (the bible) and Church. All these blessings equip us in the use of our individual gifts. So, whilst fear and procrastination may promote inaction we cannot claim ignorance as an excuse. The fearful servant in the parable simply hid his talent. In a false sense of control he wanted to return the talent to his master in the state in which it was received. Many of us favour the status quo, keeping things as they are, it provides a sense of security. Jesus, however, tells us clearly that there can be no faith without action, without adventure. We are to use all His blessings to speculate with our talents to accumulate for the Kingdom of God; our motive to glorify God, producing fruit as His disciples.
     Whatever talent we have, the more we use it the more proficiency we gain in its use. We learn from our successes and failures in the practice of the talent. We know this to be true with skills in sport, music, language and so on. We also know that if we fail to use it we lose it. These principles are true with the talents that God gives us. He desires for them to be used in His service; the more we use them for His glory the more competent we become in exercising them. If we bury them in the ground we will eventually lose them. God will use all things, including the exercising of our gifts, for our good if we love Him and have been called by Him (Romans 8: 28). He wishes us to become all that we can be in the image of Christ; it gives Him joy. Let us therefore, with courage, speculate to accumulate for the Kingdom of God.
*A talent was not a coin but a weight. Its value was dependent on its material, more often than not, copper, silver or gold.

To Ponder: This week we have considered the need to be awake to our reality, to the best use of our time and today, how to use our God given talents. In prayer, discern where you stand and how you might step out in faith to speculate to accumulate?

Prayer: Almighty and everlasting God, by whose Spirit the whole body of the Church is governed and sanctified: hear our prayer which we offer for all your faithful people, that in our vocation and ministry we may serve you in fullness, holiness and truth to the glory of your name through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen

Praise: Thrive
Link - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qQ71RWJhS_M
O Jesus I have promised
Link - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XxcsTpNrd8o