Tag Archives: Talents

Gifts Differing

you-belong-serving-Christ-body-churchEpiphany
January 15, 2016

Scripture Reading: 1 Corinthians 12:1-11

Now there are varieties of gifts, but the same Spirit; and there are varieties of services, but the same Lord; and there are varieties of activities, but it is the same God who activates all of them in everyone. To each is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good. To one is given through the Spirit the utterance of wisdom, and to another the utterance of knowledge according to the same Spirit, to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healing by the one Spirit, to another the working of miracles, to another prophecy, to another the discernment of spirits, to another various kinds of tongues, to another the interpretation of tongues. All these are activated by one and the same Spirit, who allots to each one individually just as the Spirit chooses. –1 Corinthians 12:4-11

God intentionally created diversity. One would think that would be the only rationale we need to encourage us, even drive us, to make it work. Diversity has often been described as one of the greatest assets of the USA, if not the greatest asset.

Our scripture today talks about the diversity of talents. Most of us, who have been in the work force since Myers Briggs Personality Types were identified, have been trained to recognize that the workforce needs all sixteen types to flourish with productivity. And yes, that can result in differences of opinion. The fruit of the combined labor comes when people take the time to learn from the viewpoint of the other, put them together, and produce a better outcome. Why can’t we do that, not only in church, but also in government? We seem to prefer to model ourselves after prize fighters who go to and from their designated corners getting more and more battered and bruised until someone lands a knockout blow. It might be good for boxing; it is counterproductive everywhere else.

I don’t know whether If by Rudyard Kipling remains required study in school. It should be. If you haven’t read it for a while or ever, do:

If you can keep your head when all about you
   Are losing theirs and blaming it on you,…

Prayer: Lord, help us keep our collective heads and deal with the issues of our world. Amen.

*See If by Rudyard Kipling at http://www.poetryfoundation.org/poem/175772

All scriptures are quoted from the New Revised Standard Version Bible: Anglicized 
Edition, copyright 1989, 1995, Division of Christian Education of the National Council 
of Churches of Christ in the United States of American. Used by permission. All rights 
reserved.

The Lord Knows Us

GiftsEastertide
May 12, 2015

Scripture Reading: Acts 1:15-17, 21-26

Then they prayed and said, ‘Lord, you know everyone’s heart. Show us which one of these two you have chosen to take the place in this ministry and apostleship from which Judas turned aside to go to his own place.’ And they cast lots for them, and the lot fell on Matthias; and he was added to the eleven apostles. Acts 1:24-26

Does Matthias represent each of us, called to serve in a vacant slot or perhaps even in a new way? Every Disciple of Christ comes to serve with a unique set of talents. Talents with which we may have been born but also, I believe, instilled in us as good sees the need.

While, I must confess, it is a bit intimidating to realize that the Lord knows all of our hearts. On the other hand that can also be a confidence builder. For if we know that God loves us just exactly as we are, we can be assured that God can mold and make us what we are becoming to be in his service.

The key to being a productive Disciple of Christ is staying in synch with Christ: living the way Jesus taught us to live; communing regularly with God in prayer, study, meditation, and worship; and striving by choice to bear fruit in service to God through the guidance of the Holy Spirit.

Called as Partners in Christ Service

Christ’s example, Christ’s inspiring,
Christ’s clear call to work and worth,
Let us follow, never faltering,
Reconciling folk on earth.
Men and women, richer, poorer,
All God’s people, young and old,
Blending human skills together
Gracious gifts from God unfold.

Prayer: Lord, thank you for knowing me completely and still loving me. Teach me your ways and show me my way in your service. Amen.

*Called as Partners in Christ Service, verse 2, words by Jane Parker Huber, see at
http://worship-organizer.awtrey.com/hymnal/?number=343
All scriptures are quoted from the New Revised Standard Version Bible: Anglicized Edition, copyright 1989, 1995, Division of Christian Education of the National Council of Churches of Christ in the United States of American. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

What Has the Lord Called you to Do?

TalentsAdvent
December 8, 2014

Scripture Reading: Isaiah 61:1-4, 8-11

The spirit of the Lord God is upon me,
   because the Lord has anointed me;
he has sent me to bring good news to the oppressed,
   to bind up the broken-hearted,
to proclaim liberty to the captives,
   and release to the prisoners;
to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor,
  and the day of vengeance of our God;
   to comfort all who mourn;
to provide for those who mourn in Zion—
   to give them a garland instead of ashes,
the oil of gladness instead of mourning,
   the mantle of praise instead of a faint spirit.— 61:1-3a

Could you make a list like this one? If you have accepted the spirit of God upon you, what have you been anointed to do? It might be a good experience to really stop for a time and think about that. I think God who created each of us instilled in us certain talents. When we are most at home in using those talents, we most likely are in sync with what God has called us to do. The challenge is to recognize our talents, to hone them by study and good use, and to apply them when appropriate.  All of these tasks are easier to say than to do.

I have noticed in my many years of working as a part of various churches, or any organization for that matter, there are people doing things because the things need to be done and nobody else will do them. The problem with that is the person is most liked working in an area where they have limited skills while not doing the things at which they excel. The whole body of Christ suffers when all its members are not working at their full potential.

This week take a few minutes and write your Isaiah 61. The Lord has sent me to . . . .
You might be surprise what your list includes. What are the things that bring you joy even if they are hard to do and may be frustrating? When while you are working do you feel closest to God?

Of course, we all have to do some things that are not our cup of tea but knowing where you are gifted is a good start toward fulfilling your calling.

Prayer: Lord, speak to me. Help me see my passions for service, my skills to address them, and what I need to do to improve them. Amen.

All scriptures are quoted from the New Revised Standard Version Bible: Anglicized Edition, copyright 1989, 1995, Division of Christian Education of the National Council of Churches of Christ in the United States of American. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

 

Where are You Investing Your Talents?

Abundant lifeLiving in the Spirit
November 15, 2014

Scripture Reading: Matthew 25:14-30

‘For it is as if a man, going on a journey, summoned his slaves and entrusted his property to them; to one he gave five talents, to another two, to another one, to each according to his ability. Then he went away. The one who had received the five talents went off at once and traded with them, and made five more talents. In the same way, the one who had the two talents made two more talents. But the one who had received the one talent went off and dug a hole in the ground and hid his master’s money. — Matthew 25:14-18

Someone forwarded me the report of a study regarding the Top Ten Sources of Discouragement of Pastors and Church Staff* and it was very insightful. They make sense when we stop and think about them. The first is conflicts/complaining/murmuring. The second is lack of fruit and spiritual maturity in church members. The third is apathy. Our scripture today speaks of the last two so I have to assume they were problems with which Jesus had to deal. Society, in general in the USA at least, is suffering from an epidemic of apathy. We just had one of the lowest voter turnouts this country has ever experienced.

Jesus envisioned the Kingdom of God as being a place where all had a stake in its success. Where the contribution of each citizen is essential and where all citizens live not just adequately, but abundantly. I came that they may have life, and have it abundantly. (John 10:10b). Now, Jesus’ definition of abundance may be different from our definition for I fear that we sometimes limit living abundantly to material wealth. I think Jesus is talking about all aspects of life overflowing our expectations. More than financial wealth, we will each have more love, more kindness, and more justice. We will be whole and we will be one in the Kingdom of God.

I have always thought it interesting that the Greek word talenton that is a measure of weight for silver or gold and its sister Latin word talenta became our English word talent that is the abilities, powers, and gifts bestowed upon a man:  natural endowments**. As we contemplate the use of our gifts in service to God, we certainly need to consider how we share our material wealth but just as importantly we need to use our gifts in service and in love.

Prayer: Lord, we praise you for the abundance of life you poured out on us in the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ. Help us return your gifts in service to your Kingdom so that all can life in your abundance. Amen.

*www.thomrainer.com
**http://unabridged.merriam-webster.com/unabridged/Talent

All scriptures are quoted from the New Revised Standard Version Bible: Anglicized Edition, copyright 1989, 1995, Division of Christian Education of the National Council of Churches of Christ in the United States of American. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

 

Gifts and Callings

Living in the Spirit
August 14, 2014

 Scripture Reading: Romans 11:1-2a, 29-32

 for the gifts and the calling of God are irrevocable. — Romans 11:29 

I keep my car radio set on one of my local National Public Radio stations, which comes on whenever, I start my car. It is about 1.5 miles in one direction to my gym and about 1.5 miles in another direction to my church. (And, yes, I know intrinsically that there is something wrong with driving 1.5 miles to a gym, but I do.) It is rather bizarre what you hear in a 1.5 mile drive. Recently, I got a smidgen of something about humans only using 10 percent of their brains, which I understand has not been verified, but my guess is many of us do not use as fully as we could our gifts and talents.

Paul is challenging us in our scripture today to do just that, use whatever gifts and talents God has given us. He takes the challenge one step further when he indicates that first we all have a calling of God and that both the gifts and the calling of God are irrevocable.

Remember the parable of the talents. (Matthew 25:14-30)  Now the word “talent” used in this scripture is a form of money but I think it is also useful in its other meaning. In any case, the boss went on a trip and gave one servant $5 another one $2 and a third one $1 each according to his skills. The first two servants did really well and the boss was happy. The third one fearing his boss, if anything happened to that $1, hid it until the boss returned. The boss was not happy with that.

God expects us to make the most of our gifts and talents and use them to God’s glory. And by the way, I do not think it is a coincidence that this parable immediately precedes the story of the last judgment. You know the one when Jesus said:  “Come, you that are blessed by my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world; for I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me, I was naked and you gave me clothing, I was sick and you took care of me, I was in prison and you visited me.”

Prayer: God who made us in your image, make us mindful of your gifts and your call to us. Invest us in your service as we invest ourselves in your call. Amen.

All scriptures are quoted from the New Revised Standard Version Bible: Anglicized Edition, copyright 1989, 1995, Division of Christian Education of the National Council of Churches of Christ in the United States of American. Used by permission. All rights reserved.