Your Talents and God's Will

I was going through my stuff and I came across a paper. On that paper was a write-up I wrote last year for the Bible study unit in CSF-FOLC (FUTA). I read it, and it ministered to me, so I decided to share. A bit edited though

Who doesn't know the parable about the three servants that were given talents by their Master? Even many unbelievers must have heard it one way or the other. So, I believe we all know the story.

But then......

Have you ever seen this parable from a different perspective?

One day, I was thinking about this parable and I went back to it. The master just gave them the talents, he didn't tell them to double or increase the talents. OK, the idea of burying the talent is pretty annoying. What if the third servant used his own talent to buy clothes and shoes? Afterall, the master didn't tell them anything. Or rather, since his fellow servants were increasing their talents, he could have gone to split his into pieces. That would've been better because counting the pieces would give him more than his fellow servants got.

Well, the master was pleased with the first two servants. So I asked myself, why? He didn't tell them anything, did he? I figured he was happy cos they did what he wanted. I termed it "HIS WILL". That's where I'm actually going to.

Are you using the talents/gifts that God gave you according to His Will?

You know, sometimes I wonder how those two servants knew His Will.

What is the Will of God in the aspect of using your talents and how do you know His will?

Firstly, a life totally surrendered to God [Philippians 2: 5-8]. Now, this is a principal thing, your life must be TOTALLY surrendered to God.

Many people are quick to say having a relationship is the main deal. Now, think about this, Didn't the third servant have a relationship with the master? How come he didn't still know the Master's will? This third servant was rebellious, probably always wanted to have his way, instead of TOTALLY surrendering to his master. Many Christians are like that. We claim to have surrendered our lives to Christ, but we still chip in moments of "our own way", thereby missing out on "God's own Will". No matter how close you are to a person, if you keep fighting to have your own way, you'd never get to know what the person wants concerning that area.

So my question is, Have you being too intelligent for God that you have refused to TOTALLY surrender to Him in the area of using your God-given talents? Remember He gave you, just like He gave this servants.

Secondly, You shouldn't be conformed to the standards of this world [Romans 12:2]. The influence of the world alone can make you act against God's will. We weren't told, but what if the anger that made the third servant bury his talent was induced by his wrong friends? Mates? Hear-says? Encouragers(discouragers)? You might want, by all means to make impact with your talents, but are you sure you're not walking according to the world's standards? Or in the wrong crowd/audience?

I really wouldn't dwell on those much, but I'll go to the point that drove me to write this. We are told, from the Bible, that our primary focus as Christians is to reconcile men back to God. Let's relate this to the two servants that brought more talents.

You're in the choir, nice voice, you've been made a leader in the choir. As at the time you're made the leader, there are only seven people in the choir. You build them up to be true worshippers that go about touching lives and winning souls for God. They each do the same and the process continues. It's like a chain reaction that can't be stopped. See how much reconciliation you've done? With just one voice? How do you think God will feel? The same scenario applies to people in other aspects. Family, society, politics, everywhere. God didn't place you where you are by mistake. Are you reconciling people with God through this God-given talents?

Think about it dear

#IntroTalk_