When I was in junior high, I wanted to be on the dance team. The girls on the dance team were basically like cheerleaders, but they could dance. And they didn’t have to be able to do nearly as many gymnastics—which seemed like a great big bonus to me. Two years in a row, I went to the first night of tryout practice and watched intently as we were taught the routine. And two years in a row, I went home after that first practice knowing that it wasn’t in the cards for me because I couldn’t even remember the routine to be able to practice once I got home! Dancing was not my talent—no matter how much I wanted it to be.
How Should We View Our Talents?
There’s a common saying people tell their children and, although it’s well-intentioned, I think it’s the wrong message to send. “You can do anything or be anything if you put your mind to it.” I know we want our children to have confidence and push through adversity and work toward their goals—but it’s flat-out inaccurate to say they can be or do anything just because they put their mind to it. No matter how much I wanted to be a dancer, I still have the coordination of a baby deer first learning to walk. The message we should send our children—and ourselves—is that God has placed a special calling on every person’s life. It’s your job to discover your talent, nurture it, and find a way to use it in a way that glorifies God.
Many people may think, but I can’t sing or dance or play an instrument or preach. What’s my talent? Maybe your talent is that you’re good with numbers. Or maybe you’re a good writer. Or maybe you’re an easy person to talk to. The possibilities are endless, but I guarantee that God had something special planned just for you from the moment you entered this world. You see, everything and everyone God has created has had a purpose and a reason for being. He looked at the world and all the people in it and decided something was missing—so He created you. You aren’t here to just waste space. You have a purpose and a calling—and a special set of talents unique to you.
How Should We Use Our Talents?
Many people don’t utilize their talents, and sometimes that could be because they don’t know how or they’re afraid. In Matthew 25, Jesus tells the parable of a master who was going away on a trip and gave each of his servants a bag of talents (Ironic that this form of currency was called talents? I think not.). When he returned, he wanted to know how his servants used the money he had given them. The first two servants had gone out and doubled what they had. The master was pleased with both of them. But the servant who buried the money and refused to use it was cast out by the master and had his money taken from him. What does that teach us? God doesn’t give us talents so we can bury them or hide them. He wants us to use them! If you’re great with kids, volunteer in the kids ministry. If you like to write, join us in writing blogs. If you’re good at talking to folks, throw on an orange shirt and greet people at the door! There’s truly something for everyone.
But using your talents isn’t just for church. You can use them at work and at home and just about anywhere. The important thing is that you’re using them for God in the way he intended. After all, God gave you those talents—don’t you want to use them in a way that will make him smile?