Tag: Talents

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Part 3: What is that in thine hand? Using what God has given you to your fullest potential

 “And the LORD said unto him, What is that in thine hand? And he said, A rod.” Exodus 4:2

Two weeks ago in Part 1, we saw five lies that the devil tells us … and that we so gullibly believe … that hinder us from using what God has given to us to our fullest potential. Last week in Part 2, we saw where we must go for our instruction on how to use what God has given us and that is the Word of God. This week we will try to wrap all of this up.

God made each one of us unique. He also made each one of us with certain skills or talents (as the Bible calls them). In Matthew 25:14-30, we read about the parable of the talents. What is a parable? It is an earthly story with a heavenly meaning. So, what meaning or what lesson does God want us to learn from this passage in regard to using what we have in our hand?

We see first of all that the lord gave EACH one of his servants at least ONE talent, did he not? What did he then expect his servants to do with that talent? To use it, correct? God has done the same for us. He has given EACH one of us at least ONE talent to USE.

How are we to use the talent or talents that God gives to us? Well, Matthew 6:33 says, “But seek ye FIRST the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.” So, clearly we must use it for God FIRST. THEN afterward, He will help take care of the rest of our needs.

How do we do this? Use your talent in God’s house. Church congregations are not as large as they used to be. There are so many churches struggling and closing their doors today and it is so sad. God ordained the church and He sustains the church through the giving of His children. This is done first and foremost through the giving of our tithes and offerings. Then it is also seen through each of us giving our service in some capacity within the church. God did not save us to be a hit-and-miss Christian. Neither did He save us to warm a pew. Use your talent in God’s house, my friend!

Right now, more than ever, people are struggling financially to support their families. I know it is extremely hard and I am not belittling this in any way. But, this is no time to despair, my friend! God already knew before you did what you would be facing today because He “knoweth what things ye have need of, BEFORE ye [even] ask him.” Matthew 6:8. He is not one bit surprised.

How can He be so confident? It is because He already has given you exactly what you need to do this! Yes, you heard me correctly. You right this very minute hold in your hand the very tool needed to provide for your family. The question is, are you using it?

Remember the devil lies. He is going to try to make you believe that it is someone else’s fault that you are where you are. That is a lie. He is going to try to make you believe that nothing can be done with what you currently have available to you. That is a lie. How do I know this? Because I read Matthew 25:14-30.

Nowhere in my Bible did it say that any of the servants exchanged talents because their lord gave them the wrong one. My Bible does say though that each servant who used their talent … what God put in their hand … He MULTIPLIED it! Yes, He MULTIPLIED each and every one of the talents that were USED!! Is not this the greatest news that you ever heard?

USE what is in your hand right now, my friend! Do not worry about tomorrow or the next day or next week or next month. You have in your hand TODAY exactly what you need!!

You may have only received one talent, but be FAITHFUL with that one talent. Use it! God will bless your faithfulness with even the smallest talent that He gave you.

That servant who never used his talent reaped nothing! Do not be like that servant. Do not lose it! For then you will have nothing.

The sower never reaps what he does not sow, but he always reaps more than he sowed.

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Part 1: What is that in Thine hand? Using what God has given you to your fullest potential

 “And the LORD said unto him, What is that in thine hand? And he said, A rod.” Exodus 4:2

This topic has been on my heart and mind for some time now. I pray that God will give me mental clarity and my lips His words for I feel that too many of us need to hear what God wants us to hear about this.

We hurry and we scurry and fill our days to the fullest, but do we truly use what God has given us to our fullest potential?

It is so easy to get stuck into a certain mindset … into a rut, if you will. Do not start pointing fingers yet because you may be there right now and did not even have a clue. I know that I have been here. Sadly, it is not just confined to a certain race or a certain profession, and it is just as widespread in the church as it is out of the church.

What hinders us from living our lives to their fullest potential? Sometimes it is important to stop the merry-go-round of life and step off long enough to get a clear picture of what is really happening around us. To see where we really are headed in life.

Satan is the master hinderer. He is also a master at deceiving us into believing his lies. So, let us look at some lies that he uses to hinder us:

1.  By being busy, I accomplish more — This is so clearly portrayed in the contrast between Mary and Martha in Luke 10:38-42. Martha was so “cumbered about [with] much serving,” yet, Christ said that, “Mary hath chosen the good part.” Mary who sat at Jesus’ feet was the one who was blessed the most. Yes, we must serve, but we cannot fail to forget the “good part” either!

2.  Believing that all things are created equal; consequently, not setting priorities — The Bible clearly tells us in Matthew 6:33 that we are to, “seek ye FIRST the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.” Setting and living by priorities in our lives are so important and at the top of that list must be God. If we fail to do just this one simple thing, it can mess up everything else in our lives in a hurry.

3.  Feeling that we are not good enough — This feeling most often comes when we compare ourselves to others. II Corinthians 10:12 informs us that this is a very unwise practice. God “fearfully and wonderfully made” each one of us (Psalm 139:14). He did not make us to sit off to the side. No, my friend! He made us to use us. We are special to him and that is what counts!

4.  It looks too much like work — Sometimes we ignore what we are carrying in our hand because we do not want to use it. It may look too much like work to us! But, II Thessalonians 3:10 tells us that, “if any would not work, neither should he eat.” If we want sustenance physically for ourselves and for our families, we must work to provide for that.

5.  It does not matter how I do the job as long as it gets done — Umm … no! That is not what God says. God says in  II Corinthians 10:12 that “whatsoever ye do, do it heartily, as to the Lord, and not unto men.” We must do it with care and purpose. We must do it from the heart!

Come back next week as we continue with Part 2 … finding out how we can use what God has put in our hands!