All the promises of God in
Him are Yes, and in Him Amen… —2 Corinthians 1:20
“Jesus’ parable of the
talents recorded in Matthew 25:14-30 was
a warning that it is possible for us to misjudge our capacities. This parable
has nothing to do with natural gifts and abilities, but relates to the gift of
the Holy Spirit as He was first given at Pentecost. We must never measure our
spiritual capacity on the basis of our education or our intellect; our capacity
in spiritual things is measured on the basis of the promises of God. […] If we
have received the Holy Spirit, God expects the work of the Holy Spirit to be
exhibited in us.[…] Never forget that our capacity and capability in spiritual
matters is measured by, and based on, the promises of God.” CHAMBERS
If you are a Christian, God
has gifted you, through the Spirit, to accomplish a particular purpose that God
has for you. (Romans 12:4-6) “For as
we have many members in one body, but all the members do not have the same
function, so we, being many, are one
body in Christ, and individually members of one another. Having then gifts differing according to the
grace that is given to us, let us use them …” We must be careful that we don’t challenge God
by comparing ourselves to other Saints, wishing we could do what they do or
feeling less about ourselves because we are
not gifted in the same way that they are.
Our challenge is to be found faithful what God has providentially accomplished
through His Spirit. (Ephesians 4:7) “But
to each one of us grace was given according to the measure of Christ’s gift.” I was thinking about my 20 year high school
class reunion. That is the first time many of people who graduated with you
have seen each other. Life and gravity
has changed everyone. But everyone is
hoping no one notices. As it happened, I
had just finished a yearlong school with the Army. I was a major, a helicopter pilot, about to
go to graduate school. Was sporting a gorgeous
wife on my arm. I looked significantly different from my high school days. By the way, all of the attributes I had
intended to be downplayed, with the exception of my wife … but my wife told
everyone she met .. so much for the ruse.
One of my high school buddies was talking to me, apologizing, well
basically for not being me. I looked him
squarely in the eyes and asked “Do you have a job? Are you taking care of your
family? Then I think you are pretty successful”
You see, it’s not what we don’t
have but what we do have that matters.
We often overlook what we have because of the glitter if what someone
else has. Moving from the worldly to the
heavenly, our particular spiritual gifts have great value in God’s
economy. Just as you don’t think less of
yourself because you are not the President, you should not think less of yourself
because you are not a great speaker or a missionary or whatever. Now, if God has gifted you in those areas, and
the point is that you are not exercising those gifts, well that’s called
disobedience. Another topic for another day. (1 Peter 4:10-11) “As each one has received a gift, minister it to
one another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God. […] If anyone ministers, let him do it as
with the ability which God supplies, that in all things God may be glorified
through Jesus Christ, to whom belong the glory and the dominion forever and
ever.” ELGIN
Charley Elgin
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