Sunday Southerner
REFLECTION
Bible Texts: Proverbs 22:29; Matthew 25: 14–30; Colossians 3: 23–24 (NLT)
“Again, the Kingdom of Heaven can be illustrated by the story of a man going on a long trip. He called together his servants and entrusted his money to them while he was gone. He gave five bags of silver to one, two bags of silver to another, and one bag of silver to the last—dividing it in proportion to their abilities. He then left on his trip…” Matthew 25:14 – 30.
My dear brethren in Christ, Peace be with you. Today, through the voice of the Church, God draws our attention to a very interesting scenario that points to our abilities and the corresponding impacts we, through them make on others. Each human has an ability, talent (gift) for which he stands out amongst others.
That is a very unique character or identity for which you are being known. However, it is not enough to say, “I have a gift.” The important question is, “What am I doing with the gift God has given me?” It is one thing to possess an ability, another is to produce results with the talent.
Talent (gifts) are natural abilities that enable one to learn something faster and perform it above average with ease or less effort. While skill is obtained through consistent practices, talent is your starting advantage in the journey of life. But, it must be nurtured and taken care of in order for it to grow into full maturity (mastery).
The first part of the reflection according to Matthew 25: 14 – 30 points towards the reality of our different individual gifts, at different proportions, acknowledging the need for them to be put into work or practice.
They must be groomed for efficiency and maximization.
The second part of the reflection according to Colossians 3: 23-24 pointing to the call to service and the nature of service. A service befitting not just to man but God.
The story in Matthew 25: 14–30, teaches us that God has given each person something to work with. Not everyone has the same gift, but everyone has a responsibility to use what they have received. Some people can sing, some can teach, some can lead, some can encourage others, and some have the ability to solve problems.
Whatever your gift may be, God expects you to use it.
Often times, the mistake we make is comparing ourselves with others. Someone may say, “I cannot sing like that person,” or “I cannot preach like that pastor,” or “I cannot do what my friend is doing.”
But God is not asking you to become another person. He wants you to be faithful with what He has placed in your hands. Your responsibility is to develop your gift and use it to make a difference. God expects us to work on what He has given us. Do not allow laziness, fear, or the belief that you are not good enough to stop you from developing your gift.
The more you grow in your gift, the more useful you can become to others.
Proverbs 22:29 teaches us the importance of diligence and excellence in whatever we do. Having a gift is good, but a gift that is not developed may not produce the impact it is meant to produce. A person may have the gift of singing, but without practice, discipline, and learning, that gift may not reach its full potential.
In the same way, someone may have the ability to teach, but that person must study, prepare, and improve in order to teach effectively. If you are a student, take your studies seriously. If you are a trader, be honest and diligent in your business. If you are a teacher, teach with commitment. If you are a pastor, prepare yourself to serve God’s people faithfully.
There is a difference between having a gift and making an impact with that gift. A person may have a beautiful voice but never uses it to encourage or inspire anyone. Another person may have the gift of teaching but refuses to teach others. Such gifts remain unused.
In the parable of the talents, the first two servants put their talents to work and produced results. They did not simply keep what their master gave them; they used it to increase what had been entrusted to them.
But the servant who buried his talent failed to put it to work.
This teaches us that a gift becomes impactful when it is put to use for the benefit of others. If God has given you the ability to encourage people, use it to strengthen those who are discouraged. If you have the gift of leadership, use it to guide people in the right direction.
If you have knowledge, share it with others. If you have resources, use them to help those in need.
In the second part according to Colossians 3:23–24, the scripture teaches us that whatever we do should be done with commitment, sincerity, and excellence.
As Christians, our work should not be driven only by the desire to receive praise from people. We should do our best because we are serving the Lord.
Sometimes, people only put in their best effort when someone is watching them.
When the leader is present, they work hard, but when the leader is absent, they become careless. This is not the kind of attitude God expects from us. Whether people appreciate you or not, continue to do your work faithfully.
If you are a teacher, teach with excellence.
If you are a student, study with seriousness. If you are a worker, give your best to your job. If you are serving in the church, do it with a sincere heart. When you work as unto the Lord, even the smallest task becomes meaningful.
Impact is not measured only by how many people know your name, but also by how faithfully you use your gift to serve others.
It is important to note that God rewards faithfulness. The statement in Matthew 25:21 by the master shows us that God values faithfulness. The two servants who used their talents wisely received commendation from their master. Their reward was not based on having equal amounts but on being faithful with what they had received.
Sometimes, the impact of what we do may not be visible immediately.
A teacher may not know how many lives have been changed by a lesson. A person who encourages others may not realize how much hope those words have brought. A faithful worker may not receive public praise, but the value of that person’s service remains.
Therefore, continue to use your gift faithfully. Do not give up simply because people have not recognized your efforts. Remember that you are ultimately serving the Lord.
My dear brethren in Christ. It is a call to move beyond merely possessing a gift and begin using it to make a difference. God has given each of us something valuable, and He expects us to be faithful with it. We must discover our gifts, develop them through diligence, use them to serve others, and do everything with excellence and a sincere heart toward God.
Do not bury your talent. Do not allow fear, laziness, or comparison to stop you. Start where you are, use what you have, and trust God to help you grow.
Do not allow your gift to remain hidden. Start with what you have, where you are, and with the opportunities available to you.
You may not be able to change the whole world, but you can make a meaningful difference in the life of one person.
Your gift is a seed, but your impact is the fruit it produces.
May the Peace and Love of God that surpasses all things rest and abide in our hearts. Amen.