Talent & the Kingdom (6)

So far we have learned a lot from Jesus's words regarding the parable of the talents:

• The advancing of the Kingdom is an assignment for the believers
• Jesus will ask us what we have done with the talents he gave us
• Building God's Kingdom is not an option!
• God is still the owner of our talents, we are the stewards
• Everyone has received at least one talent from God

Let's go back to His words, one more time. Matthew 25:14-15 says, Again, it will be like a man going on a journey, who called his servants and entrusted his property to them. To one he gave five talents of money, to another two talents, and to another one talent, each according to his ability. Then he went on his journey. What struck me the most in this scripture is the part where it says 'each according to his ability'. That shows the love and care and precision of our heavenly Father. We will receive just what we can handle, something that fits our personality. That means our talent is unique for the building of Gods Kingdom.

We are able to do something in a way, no one else can. Of course, there are many people with a writing talent. Personally I know hundreds of people who do a much better job than I do. My writing talent in itself is not so special. But... my writing talent in combination with my character, background, humor, and knowledge is very special! The way I see things, perceive things, process things in my mind and the way I add a  personal touch to a story... THAT makes my talent unique.

So it is with your talent. Maybe nothing special in itself... But, in combination with your unique personality, experiences and background it becomes a unique tool for God. He desires to use everything and everyone to spread His Word and Truth around the globe; whether we use a pen, brush, screwdriver, or crochet hook!

Talent & the Kingdom (5)

Let's continue to look at the parable of the talents and the Kingdom. We have learned some interesting things so far. The Bible speaks about money or property being entrusted to the servants or workers. Basically this is about something we can work with, to build His Kingdom. Something we have received from the Lord: money, talents, opportunities...

Matthew 25:14-15 says: Again, it will be like a man going on a journey, who called his servants and entrusted his property to them. To one he gave five talents of money, to another two talents, and to another one talent, each according to his ability. Then he went on his journey. It is the man who hands out the talents. A talent is not something we can earn or buy or go to school for. It is a gift from God and it is our assignment to receive it and use it. The question we should ask ourselves therefore is not 'Do I have talent?', but 'What is my talent?'

A talent is an inborn ability, something the Creator put in us while we were still in our mother's womb (see my book Breath of Life, for more on this subject). It is something that:

• we can do fairly easily
• we enjoy doing, and
• that gives us satisfaction

Of course a talent needs to be stimulated, developed and perfected. We can do that by using it! Did I start my writing career writing books? No, not really. I practiced the art of writing in short stories, essays, poetry, articles, columns, press releases etc. etc. Someone once said that talent is 10% gifting and 90% hard work. I think that comes very close to the truth. God gives us our talent(s) as a seed, we need to water it...

TIP: It is very important that, next to our job, family and social life, we make room for our talent. That is the first choice we must make. Turn off the television one evening a week, for starters, or go into another room and ask God to show you WHAT He has put inside of you and HOW He wants you to use it for His glory... that is: to change the world around you.

I am very curious!

Talent & the Kingdom (4)

It is fun to write this series on Talent & the Kingdom in a period that I have two new books published, one in the USA and one in Holland. My Neigbor's House is the fifth book in a series about the Ten Commandments in the 21st century and deals with the last commandment: do not covet... It will be available later this year and I can only pray and hope this book will be a tremendous help in your spiritual journey.

In the previous posts we have seen that building or advancing God's Kingdom is not optional, it is an assignment, a calling we receive from the King. Let's go back to Matthew 25:14-15: Again, it will be like a man going on a journey, who called his servants and entrusted his property to them. To one he gave five talents of money, to another two talents, and to another one talent, each according to his ability. Then he went on his journey. The next thing we can learn from this introduction to the parable of the talents is that the man entrusted his property (talents, money) to his servants. He entrusts the property to them, which means he is still the owner! His servants are the stewards.

Jesus is still the owner of whatever He has entrusted us with. Whether that is money, talents or opportunities. However, we are called to do something with it, so as to reach other people, who can reach other people... yes, you got it. It doesn't matter which field your talent is in. Let's say you bake the best apple pies in town. Why not organize a coffee morning once a month or so for women in your street? Women you may never meet in any church. Ask your kids to make flyers and start inviting people. You do not have to preach or teach, this is about building relationships. The deeper conversations will come before you know it... especially after everyone has enjoyed your scrumptious apple pie!

This is only a very simple example of using (managing) the very thing God has given you. He is still the owner and entrusts us with basic assignments. It is His desire that we will go into the world with what we have and with what we can do. Let's not make this too difficult :) He trusts us to go for it.

4) God is still the owner of our talents, we are the stewards!

Talent & the Kingdom (3)

The very last parable Jesus shared before His crucifixion was the parable of the talents and the Kingdom. I believe His disciples really got that message, because after Jesus went back to heaven to be with the Father, they went on their way to build God's Kingdom.

With us, things are often different. We can hear so many sermons preached on such a parable that we tend to forget what it is all about. Let's look again at the introduction Jesus gives: Again, it will be like a man going on a journey, who called his servants and entrusted his property to them. To one he gave five talents of money, to another two talents, and to another one talent, each according to his ability. Then he went on his journey (Matthew 25:14-15). The man calls his servants. That same calling goes out to all of us. Each person who gives heed to the call of God to put his or her life in His hands automatically receives the call to build the Kingdom.

To build the Kingdom means to tell other people about Jesus, using whatever means you have been given. It is written about Paul that boldly and without hindrance he preached the kingdom of God and taught about the Lord Jesus Christ (Acts 28:31). Jesus came to earth to announce the coming of His Kingdom. He talked about it all the time, even for forty days in a row after His resurrection (Acts 1:3)! Can you image your pastor teaching about the Kingdom for forty (Sun)days :) There is definitely a lot to learn about this subject!

Maybe you do not see how God's invisible Kingdom and our visible work come together. Maybe you're just waiting for good things to happen, or maybe not? The Bible clearly teaches that we are co-laborers with Him and that there is work to do (which we have so beautifully called 'the great commission). Paul writes in his letter to the Colossians (4:11) about this kind of co-laborers: These are my only fellow workers for the kingdom of God who are of the circumcision; they have proved to be a comfort to me. People who work for the Kingdom of God are a comfort for their spiritual leaders, not a danger.

Just try to imagine that Jesus calls you and some of your friends, as in this parable. He entrusts you with something, he gives you something you can work with... let's call it tools. Money, talents, opportunities... it doesn't really matter what we call it. The question is... are we willing to use it?

3) Building God's Kingdom is not an option!

Talent & the Kingdom (2)

I ended my previous blog post with the words: 'The advancing (expanding) of the Kingdom is an assignment for the believers'. I am using the term 'the advancing of the Kingdom' to describe the growing amount of believers in Jesus Christ (here on earth).

It is God's desire that every person will welcome King Jesus in their heart and so become a member of God's family, a citizen of the Kingdom. Jesus explains it this way: The Law and the Prophets were proclaimed until John. Since that time, the good news of the kingdom of God is being preached, and everyone is forcing his way into it (Luke 16:16).

As workers, or co-laborers, in the Kingdom of God we have received tools: spiritual gifts, but also natural abilities/talents. Jesus tells a great story to emphasize our assignment to work for this Kingdom in Matthew 25. Let me highlight His introduction: Again, it will be like a man going on a journey, who called his servants and entrusted his property to them. To one he gave five talents of money, to another two talents, and to another one talent, each according to his ability. Then he went on his journey.  It doesn't really matter whether this parable is about money, talents or opportunities, the main point is that God entrusts his people with something for a bigger purpose.

Jesus starts this story with the announcement that the man is going on a journey. If Jesus would have left after speaking these words, we still would have learned a spiritual truth: the man does not go away for ever, he is coming back! We also live with the expectation that Jesus is coming back to check on our work, to ask what we have done with the very things He entrusted us with.

2) Jesus will ask us what we have done with the talents he gave us

Talent & the Kingdom (1)

Later this month my husband and I will give a workshop Talent & the Kingdom in a church in Holland. In preparation for this service, we have been reading the parable of the talents, as found in Matthew 25, and it is amazing what we can learn from the words of Jesus about this subject. It doesn't really matter whether this parable is about money, talents or opportunities, the main point is that God entrusts his people with something for a bigger purpose.

Why do we teach on this subject? Well, many people

• presume that natural talents cannot be used for Kingdom purposes, that only spiritual gifts matter
• are not aware of the talents God has given them
• do not use their talents for the Kingdom of God

Let's be honest, most of us use our God given talents in a secular job, so we can have worldly success, which enables us to buy earthly possessions. That may be a harsh truth, but it is the answer to the question: if I do not use my talents for God, for what or whom do I use them? It will be a real eye opener to take a closer look at the words of Jesus as found in Matthew 25:14-15. These two verses are the introduction to the parable: Again, it will be like a man going on a journey, who called his servants and entrusted his property to them. To one he gave five talents of money, to another two talents, and to another one talent, each according to his ability. Then he went on his journey. I have written down several principles based on this introduction and I will share them on this blog in the next couple of weeks. I hope you will enjoy reading with me and be inspired to use your talents for His glory. (At the end of this series I will write more on how to discover your talent.)

It is clear from the context that this parable is about the Kingdom of God. When Jesus says 'it will be like', He is talking about the Kingdom. He uses this and previous parables to explain that the Kingdom of God can only grow and expand when the workers are alert and do their job. The workers are the ones who have received His message. Jesus gave the keys for this (spiritual) work to his followers: I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven; whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven (Matthew 16:19).

Many books and commentaries have been written about these instructions, but I want to emphasize the fact that the Kingdom cannot be separated from the assignment to bear fruit. The Kingdom (the spiritual realm where God's will prevails) is not something we live in while reclining on the couch, watching t.v., and eating popcorn. There is work to be done; God wants everyone to enter His Kingdom. In Matthew 21:43 Jesus says to the religious people: Therefore I tell you that the kingdom of God will be taken away from you and given to a people who will produce its fruit.

1) The advancing (expanding) of the Kingdom is an assignment for the believers