02182023 How Many Talents?

Dear Missionary Lady,

Greetings in the name of our discerning God. God understands what is best for each person, and He interacts appropriately in each individual’s life. Part of that is in bestowing gifts that are suitable both in number and in type.

Whether it is true or not, missionaries are often viewed as having numerous gifts and abilities – a jack-of-all-trades. Often God does bless these men and women in extraordinary ways, so that they can administrate, preach, teach, discern, and exhort. They can build houses, run clinics, start camps, translate materials, print resources, master technology, and minister to the needy. They can home school, play the piano, sing, offer hospitality, plan events, decorate, and any other number of diverse tasks. Thank God for such multi-talented people who choose to use their gifts for God.

Not always is this the case. God calls those who are most willing, and those are not always the most talented. Many times missionaries do all the things listed above, not because they are particularly suited for the tasks, but because the tasks must be done, and there is no one else. So God gives grace and wisdom to do what seems beyond the scope of one’s talents and abilities.

Personally, I have never seen myself among the most talented. Whether on the mission field or in teaching school or as a church member, others have been able to do more. As a teacher, for example, my specialty was Spanish, which involved only two or three classes in my area of expertise, as opposed to teachers in core subjects, who taught four to six classes in their strong subject. I had no athletic background, so I wasn’t a coach, and so on. In summary, I often felt like other teachers (missionaries, or church members) were doing more than I was.

My limitations have been exaggerated through long-standing health issues. I suppose it is somewhat natural that I have been thinking lately about how little I am able to do. Then this week I read Matthew 25:14-30. Before he went on a journey, the master entrusted talents to some of his servants. One received five, another two, and another one. Each was expected to use what he was given. When the master returned, the men gave reports of their work. Those who had received five talents and two talents had doubled their investment.

The lord responded to both of these men the same way: “Well done, good and faithful servant; thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord.” The master was pleased with both men for using what they had been given. The approval was not for the amount of return, but for the faithfulness of the effort. They did what they were capable of.

Those of us with one or two talents are not going to see the same return as those with five talents, (outside an extraordinary work of God). That’s okay. God doesn’t expect us to do what we can’t do. In fact, God knows exactly what we are equipped and designed for. The lord distributed the talents “to every man according to his several ability.” God knows exactly how much to expect of each one of us, because God knows exactly how much He has entrusted to each of us, and He has entrusted it based on His knowledge of us from our very beginnings. Our talents, abilities, and gifts come from God and are determined by God.

Likewise, God knows the circumstances of our lives, because, after all, He controls those, too. So He knows our limitations in utilizing the gifts He has given. We may still have the same gifts we have always had, but we might not always be able to use them in the same capacity. We might be limited by health, age, number of children, an ailing parent, language barriers, home schooling, or other factors. At this stage of our lives, our “investments” might not seem to be doing very well. But God’s expectations and approval are not based on the amount of return, but on the faithfulness of the effort. He wants us to do what we are capable of.

I hope you will be encouraged as I was in realizing that God doesn’t expect you to be anyone else. He doesn’t expect you to have someone else’s results. He also doesn’t expect you to produce the same way in every circumstance or stage of life. He just wants you to faithfully use whatever He has given you, within the constraints of the situation where He has placed you. If that is five talents, praise the Lord, and use those five talents faithfully. If it is one talent, praise the Lord, and use that one as faithfully as you can. Thank God that He uses amazing people who are willing and faithful! And thank God that He also uses ordinary people who are willing and faithful! Either way, to God be the glory.

Love in Christ,

Peggy Holt

member at Open Door Baptist Church in Lebanon, PA