Are You Using Your Talent?

A few days ago, I was dealing with a back pain and was looking for ways to improve my sitting posture while working. That’s when I remembered an external keyboard I bought in February 2022, when I had a laptop with keyboard issues. I only used it for the first few weeks after I bought it, before putting it in storage. Fast forward to June 2025 and the rejected stone became the cornerstone (Ps. 118:22). This got me thinking about how we are all given talents, some use it and others bury it. When you bury your God-given talent (James 1:17), this is akin to lighting a candle and putting it under a bucket (Matt. 5:15). The Joel Osteen devotional for June 12 (Do It Afraid), further reinforces the importance of using our talents by looking at the example of Moses and God getting angry when he kept making excuses to avoid using his talent (Ex. 4:14).

As individuals, we are each given a talent but the responsibility for using and maximizing that talent lies with each of us. In Matt. 25:14 – 30, Jesus gives us a parable about talents by telling us a story of a rich man who in preparation for his journey overseas calls his three servants, gives them talents (5, 2, and 1 in that order- vs. 15), and departs. It’s interesting to note that he distributed the talents according to their ability. You may say that’s unfair, if you’re a proponent of the Innate Talent Theory that says people are born with their talent already in them and can’t acquire any after birth, I say to you that you’re missing the point because your talents grow by using them and as you do, new ones are acquired. I remember listening to an episode of the Overlap (a football YouTube channel), and hearing Roy Keane (I think) say that hard work is a talent. When you develop what you have, more is given to you and that is what occurred with each of the servants in this parable. 

When their master returned, he carried out a performance review for each of them. The servants with 5 and 2 talents made use of theirs, but the servant with one talent (out of fear) went and buried it. Contrary to what God asks us to do in Matt. 5:16! The result was consistent with God’s reaction to Moses: anger. His master was so angry he banished the wasteful servant. That’s why Joel Osteen in the June 12 devotional counsels us to do it afraid (here’s a post I wrote on the same topic- Do it afraid!). When you do it afraid, you’re doing it in faith that God will help you (Ps. 46:1, Heb. 11:6), and that is what will make Him happy. If you have watched the movie Coach Carter, you’ll recognize this quote by Cruz, one of the players that struggled under Coach Carter:

Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. It is our light, not our darkness that most frightens us. We ask ourselves, 'Who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented, fabulous?' Actually, who are you not to be? You are a child of God. Your playing small does not serve the world. There is nothing enlightened about shrinking so that other people won't feel insecure around you. We are all meant to shine, as children do. We were born to make manifest the glory of God that is within us. It's not just in some of us; it's in everyone. And as we let our own light shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same. As we are liberated from our own fear, our presence automatically liberates others.” ― Marianne Williamson, A Return to Love: Reflections on the Principles of "A Course in Miracles"

As we wrap up H1 2025, when it comes to your talent, I want you to ask yourself, what are you afraid of? If you don’t try, you’ll never know how good you are or can be. You want to succeed in life, use your talents (Prov. 18:16). We all hail David, but imagine if he had been afraid to approach Saul (I Sam. 17:30 – 34). Will he be known for all the great deeds we hail him for today? Through hard work and dedication, David’s talents kept growing, as a warrior and a musician, and they brought him before a King. The most important thing to note is this- make sure you use your talents for God, not yourself! It is when you do so that you will be able to fulfil the mandate God gave us in Matt. 5:16.

 

P.S. Here’s the prayer from the Joel Osteen devotional: “Father, thank You for the gifts and the talents You put in me. Thank You that You made me and whatever You ask me to do You will make sure I have the ability to do it. I will be faithful to develop what You’ve given me and be bold to step out of my comfort zone and use it. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.”

P.P.S. Happy Father's Day! Here's a prayer of thanks to our Heavenly Father from Joel Osteen's June 15 devotional: “Father, thank You that You are such an awesome Heavenly Father to me. Thank You that You have given me my gifts and talents, and You’ve empowered and equipped me. I believe that just as You spoke worlds into existence that what You’ve spoken over my life will come to pass. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.”

Photo cred: Dr. Myles Munroe