Chapter 4

Managing Our

God-given Talents

"I suppose so," reflected the physician. "But we work on our's while the engine is running."

The two men laughed. But they realized that, though their talents had many similarities, they were vastly different.

Use vs. Disuse

Talents . . .

What are they? They seem so easy to enumerate, and yet they're so intertwined that it's difficult to make a precise definition for any one of them. Jesus talked about talents several times, and yet He didn't exactly define them. But He did help us understand the way our use of talents affects our relationship to God.

Jesus told a story one day (Matthew 25:15-30) about a wealthy man . . . let's call him Sir George Ethernet, owner and CEO of Consolidated Microchips International. This important man became increasingly weary from the stress of running his company. So he decided to go on an extended vacation.

"My division chiefs will handle daily operations while I'm gone," he thought. "But who can I get to handle the company's cash reserves?"

After mulling it over in his mind for a few days he decided to put the reserves into the hands of his three senior vice-presidents—Marvin, Joyce, and Freda. He'd always been able to trust them with important matters before . . . so the decision was made: He'd have Marvin manage five $billion,  Joyce would monitor two $billion, and to Freda he gave responsibility over one $billion.

While he was gone Marvin and Joyce each saw opportunities to invest the "boss's" money in high-yield stocks, and they watched their growth from day to day with great satisfaction. But Freda didn't feel that the boss had been fair with her. She felt afraid: What if the stock took a sudden down-turn? What if the company in which she invested declared bankruptcy? If she wasn't careful the money might be lost and she'd be in big trouble. So she had the bank president make out a withdrawal note for one $billion, and she placed it in a safe deposit box. "At least there it will be safe."

After a year, Sir George returned from his vacation and shortly afterward visited his senior vice-presidents. "Welcome back, Sir." Marvin beamed. "Look what's happened to the money you gave me." He pecked a few keys on his computer. "See, here is the money you gave me. I invested it in XYZ industries, and it's done remarkably well. Here on the graph it shows that your stock has doubled in value since you left."

"That's great," exclaimed Sir George. "You know, Marvin, I've been thinking of putting you in charge of my holdings in Switzerland."

"Thank you Sir George," was all Marvin could think of to say.

Sir George took the elevator to the next floor and visited Joyce. The story was much the same. Pointing to her monitor Joyce explained. "I placed your money into CAW and you'll notice that it's doubled in the past year."

"Wonderful." He thought for a moment. "Say, I need a CEO for my plant in Rhode Island. Think you'd be interested?"

Joyce blushed. "Of course, Sir. I really appreciate the faith you've shown in me."

Moving down the hall, around the corner and entering the first door on the right, Sir George approached Freda's desk. "Oh, Sir, I heard you were back in town." She took a bank statement from her top drawer. "You've been very exacting during the past, and I was afraid I might lose your money. I kept in a safe deposit box, and have now redeposited it into your account."

"You lazy girl!" he stormed. "At least you could have put it into a savings account so it would have gathered some interest. You're fired."

Talents

Jesus—represented here by Sir George—has given each of us talents—represented here by money—to use for the benefit of His kingdom. When Jesus went back to heaven He put all His work into our hands, and gave us everything we needed to do it.

It's interesting that Sir George, Jesus said, gave each of his senior vice-presidents responsibilities "according to his ability." And he requires no more of us than that we use our talents in His service. God never asks more of us than we are able to do, and He gives us the power we need to accomplish His work. Of course, some employees are able to do more work than others, because some people have the ability to carry heavier burdens. But all of us have talents and God wants us to use them.

Every talent we have has been loaned to us by our heavenly Father. And each of our tasks is different from that of everyone else.

Some Christians have the talent to handle a lot of money, either by inheritance, or hard work, or skillful management. Jesus requires them to be faithful with His money, and to help finance His work at home and around the world.

Others have been gifted with craftsmanship, and they can do marvelous things with their hands. Others have the gift of music, or leadership, or writing, or to make peace when trouble arises in the community. The list is endless. Each of us has received talents—and the ability to use them in Christ's kingdom.

Audit

One day Jesus will review our work, and see how well we've used the talents He gave us. What will He find? Will He discover that we've faithfully employed them to His glory? Or will He find that we've stuck them away in some virtual safe deposit box where we either don't use them at all or merely use them to please ourselves.

Those who have faithfully used their talents will receive greater responsibilities.

This may come as a shock to those who see heaven as the great vacation in the sky, but eternity will not be filled with idleness. If you do your work well here, then God will reward you with more important work. But what a privilege to work for Jesus throughout eternity!

All of this may cause concern to those who dislike work, for the opposite is also true: Those who fail to use their talents in the Master's service here on earth will find no place whatever in the kingdom of God, for there will be no unemployment in heaven.

One way to use talents*

In the northwestern United States lived a man who owned seven logging companies, each with machinery worth $millions. We'll call him Noble. Noble gave about as much thought to buying a log-loading machine worth $half-a-million as you and I would give to buying a car. Maybe even less. Noble was a Christian and in spite of all his money, his whole life seemed to be centered around working for Jesus.

Noble had a natural talent for logging. He could look at a large section of forest from an airplane or helicopter and make a relatively accurate estimate of how much lumber would come out of all those trees. This ability, along with other special talents, led him to success in the logging business.

Noble used a lot of his money to sponsor the Lord's work. He lived near a large city where the churches held frequent evangelistic crusades. Almost every night he filled several of his six-passenger trucks with his employees and carried them 50 or 60 miles to one of the meetings. He always drove one of the trucks himself, and gave his drivers overtime pay to pilot the others. God blessed Noble's personal soul-winning work. Over time he saw the baptism of over 50 of his workers.

Noble often sent earth-moving equipment to sites where new churches or schools were being built. And he often supplied the materials for paving parking lots and driveways. People asked him why he did all these things. He explained: "It's only my way of putting more money into the Lord's work."

Much or little

Jesus gave each of us talents that He wants us to use in His work. By using our abilities in the way that Jesus planned, we will become more like Him. If we use these talents in God's appointed way, they will increase. But if we misuse them—either by using them for our own selfish purposes, or by not using them at all—then we will one day lose them entirely.

Christ gave us the principle upon which He views our use of our talents: "Whoever can be trusted with very little can also be trusted with much, and whoever is dishonest with very little will also be dishonest with much." (Luke 16:10)

*From a story told by Mel Rees

Chapter 5