How to Make Your Talents and Gifts Productive

What is in you that can be a blessing to others? How are you making use of it?

In Matthew 25:14-30, we read an interesting account of the distribution of talents.  A master was going on a trip and he decided to distribute some talents to his servants. He gave one five, he gave another two, and then to the last servant he gave one talent, with the expectation each servant would be productive with the talents he's be given and then would give him an account when he returns from his trip.

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Upon returning, two of the servants gave a good account of how they have utilised their talents and they were commended. But the servant with one talent had quite the opposite report. First, he did not use his talent for anything productive, yet he came to his master and spoke so rudely, “Then he who had received the one talent came and said, ‘Lord, I knew you to be a hard man, reaping where you have not sown, and gathering where you have not scattered seed. And I was afraid, and went and hid your talent in the ground. Look, there you have what is yours.’(Matthew 25:24-25 NKJV).

I must say that this servant had a rude audacity. He was completely unprofitable with his talent. What was the master's reaction to this? The answer arrives in the next verse:

“But his Lord answered and said to him, ‘You wicked and lazy servant, you knew that I reap where I have not sown, and gather where I have not scattered seed. So you ought to have deposited my money with the bankers, and at my coming I would have received back my own with interest. Therefore take the talent from him, and give it to him who has ten talents. ‘For to everyone who has, more will be given, and he will have abundance; but from him who does not have, even what he has will be taken away. And cast the unprofitable servant into the outer darkness. There will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.’ (Matthew 25:26-30 NKJV)

We saw the reaction of the master to this servant's indolence. He was not at all pleased. As a master, he has every right to tell his servants what to do and the servant has no choice but to comply. Hence, the indolence of the unprofitable servant wasn't just an act of disobedience. Beyond that, it was an act of disregard to his master.

As believers, God is our master and we are His servants. He has given us several 'talents' according to our abilities. Our talents are what we can be profitable or productive with. And God expects us to utilise these 'talents' in every way possible.

One of God's commands is that we are fruitful. There is no real meaning to our existence if we aren't productive with the lives we live and with the avalanche of resources or potentials that God has put on our inside. It is with these potentials/resources that we fulfil purpose. Purpose is more of a command. It is a divine assignment that must be carried out on earth. After God, our purpose should be our top priority. Needless to say that if we do not fulfil purpose, we have lived an unproductive and unprofitable lives.

If we do not take advantage of our God-given resources and then live an impactful life with it, we are disregarding our Master and we are indirectly saying that He wants to reap where as not sown. God does not treat disregard lightly. 

What is in you that you can be productive with? What gift do you have that can be a blessing to others if well utilised? Could the problems surrounding us be an indication that someone hasn't found purpose? The end to which we are called to fulfil purpose is that men are helped and restored back to God in anyway possible. Your purpose should draw men closer to God and not away.

The master in the verse we read had to give the unprofitable servant's talent to someone else. God shouldn't have to look for another man to do the assignment He gave to you. That shows a great irresponsibility on your part. That's very bad. God shouldn't be looking for a more responsible man, because you chose not to be responsible. Oh no! 

When all is said and done here on earth, would God be disappointed when you give account of your 'talents'? Would God delight in your profitable service? Or would He be displeased at the unprofitable life you lived? 

What is in you that is capable of solving problems around you? Find out by seeking God's face and when you do find out, be profitable with it, because that is the end to which you were given. 

Remain blessed.