Use What You Have

The Bible tells us that every person has been endowed by God with at least one talent or ability. Some are fortunate to have more than one. Everyone on judgment day will be called to account for what he has done to his endowed talent or ability.

Whatever be our talent or ability, we are called to do and exercise in all fidelity and in a way that will glorify our God. If by the use of our endowed or God-given talent or ability we glorify God, necessarily and inevitably as night follows day, we will be successful in all human endeavors that we engage ourselves, whether physically, financially, spiritually, or otherwise. Thus, the Bible tells us,

“And whatever you do, do it heartily, as to the Lord and not to men” (Col. 3:23).

Let the mechanic be a diligent and faithful representative of Him who toiled in the lowly carpenter’s shop in Bethlehem of Judea. Let all who carry the name of Jesus Christ so work that others, by seeing their good works, may be led to glorify our God.

The Bible tells us of certain human abilities or spiritual gifts, as follows:

^6” God has given each of us the ability to do certain things well. So if God has given you the ability to prophesy, speak out when you have faith that God is speaking through you.

⁷ If your gift is that of serving others, serve them well. If you are a teacher, do a good job of teaching.

⁸ If your gift is to encourage others, do it! If you have money, share it generously. If God has given you leadership ability, take the responsibility seriously. And if you have a gift for showing kindness to others, do it gladly” (Romans 12:6-8).

The great Apostle Paul reminds us that these various spiritual gifts should be done or exercised in LOVE - the greatest emotion and joy in all our life, which is “the bond of perfectness” (Col. 3:14). It is because of LOVE that God sent his only begotten Son to sacrificially die on our behalf in the cross of Calvary to save every believer (those who repent of their sins and accept by faith the Lord Jesus Christ as their only LORD and Savior) from eternal death (John 3:16).

Thus, Paul continued:

“⁹ Don’t just pretend to love others. Really love them. Hate what is wrong. Stand on the side of the good.

¹⁰ Love each other with genuine affection, and take delight in honoring each other.

¹¹ Never be lazy in your work, but serve the Lord enthusiastically.

¹² Be glad for all God is planning for you. Be patient in trouble, and always be prayerful.

¹³ When God’s children are in need, be the one to help them out. And get into the habit of inviting guests home for dinner or, if they need lodging, for the night.

¹⁴ If people persecute you because you are a Christian, don’t curse them; pray that God will bless them.

¹⁵ When others are happy, be happy with them. If they are sad, share their sorrow.

¹⁶ Live in harmony with each other. Don’t try to act important, but enjoy the company of ordinary people. And don’t think you know it all!

¹⁷ Never pay back evil for evil to anyone. Do things in such a way that everyone can see you are honorable.

¹⁸ Do your part to live in peace with everyone, as much as possible.

¹⁹ Dear friends, never avenge yourselves. Leave that to God. For it is written. “I will take vengeance; I will repay those who deserve it”, says the Lord.

²⁰ Instead, do what the Scriptures say: “If your enemies are hungry, feed them. If they are thirsty, give them something to drink, and they will be ashamed of what they have done to you.”

²¹ Don’t let evil get the best of you, but conquer evil by doing good.” (vs. 9-21)

Those who have been blessed with superior talents or spiritual gifts should not look down on those who are less gifted than themselves. The smallest or humblest trust or spiritual gift like ushering is from God. With the blessing of God, the one talent as spiritual gift through diligent use or exercise will be doubled, and the two used in the service of our Christ (God in the flesh) will be increased to four, etc.; and thus the humblest believer may grow in power and usefulness in God’s kingdom here on earth and in the world to come.

We are responsible only for the talents which God has bestowed upon us, and He expects us to use our talents and spiritual gifts to the best of our ability to prosper in life physically and spiritually.

Those who thus prove their fidelity can be commended and rewarded; but those who loiter in the vineyard, those who do nothing, or do negligently the Lord’s work, will never succeed or be blessed.

If we desire greater usefulness in any human endeavor, we must go to work as diligently and as best as we can. Let us work with steady patience, and do our very best, irrespective of what others are doing. Make the best investments possible with our entrusted talent or spiritual gift in the very place where our work will count the most before God. Remember, God placed us where we are.

When Moses was commissioned by God to liberate the Israelites from their bondage with the Egyptians, he complained that he was a nobody to be a liberator of numerous people who are wise but in bondage. The Lord God asked him, “What is in your hand?” Moses had only his staff (baston in Tagalog). God told him to throw it away and by a miracle of God, it became a snake. Like Moses of old, let us use our talent or spiritual gift already available in our hand, and God will show us miracles beyond our wildest dreams. Let us make use or exercise our ability, talent or spiritual gift with all diligence and our loving God will bless us miraculously.