Hey !

And thank you once again for reading (or welcome if it’s your first time) x

Matthew 25:14 – 30 , Matthew narrates the parable told by Jesus, about the talents. Where a man was going away and then to each servant he gave talents (money). To one he gave five, another two, and another one. The key thing we need to take is that they were given each according to his ability. So, when he came back, the one who had five, got five more, the one who had two, got two more, and the one who had one dug a hole and hid it, and only gave him back one.

What does this have to do with anything?

In life we are given things, according to our ability. Not necessarily money, but talents, gifts we have been given, some may be good at teaching, some may be good at speaking, some may be gifted with their hands and be really crafty. Each have been given different ones. (1 Corinthians 12: 7-12). But we have each been given according to our own ability.  We may often spend so much time comparing with other people. “They have so much more than me”. If the one who was given 2 spent more time comparing that he has less than the one who had 5, he would’ve missed the blessing.

See, the blessing wasn’t in how much they were given in the beginning, and the blessing was in what they did with what they were given. How do I know that? The one who was given 5, recieved the same words of blessing as the one who was given 2, after they had done something with it.

So I pose the question to you, what will you do with what you have been given?

I’ll give a practical example. I’ve always loved writing. My dad tells me that I could fill up a notebook within a day when I was younger, just writing. Then, somewhere amidst growing up, teenage hormones and just lack of self-confidence, I lost the confidence I had, and didn’t believe in what I was gifted in. (Oh, note: it’s not a proud statement to recognise a gift you have. People usually see it within you, it’s okay to accept that you’re good at something). Anyway, it took me to realise that someone could use the gift that I have, and if it’s something that I could use to benefit the work of God, that’s amazing! So you have to realise you have been given a gift. You can do something with what you’ve been blessed with. Someone out there could be helped because of what you have.

Not only could someone else be blessed, but you yourself could be blessed by utilising the little that you have. The problem, is that we can often look down upon ourselves, or not see what we have as useful.

Remember the story of the feeding of the 5000? (Matthew 14:13-21). The multitude was hungry. The disciples were busy thinking about what they didn’t have, without realising that there was something small that they did have. A little kids packed lunch. And through that small lunch, multiplication happened, and everyone was fed, including that lad! There may be a problem at work, in your community, where you may have some level of expertise, or even an idea on how to solve it. However, if you look down upon yourself and think that what you have isn’t really relevant, once again, you could also be limiting yourself! God won’t bless what you don’t have, but He will bless and multiply what you do have.

The widow of Zarephath, and Elijah (1 Kings 17:7-16), she was blessed even though she started off with not much, but because she allowed it to be used, it multiplied, and it blessed her and her child. 

Whether we like it or not, we will be asked one day that “What did you do with the gifts that I gave you?”. So I encourage you, not to look down upon yourself and what you have, but to see what you have as something that can be used to bless someone else. That can be used in order to benefit the kingdom. You may not even see the benefit straight away, but who knows what can happen when you allow what you have to be used.

So, practical tip: whenever you see a problem arise, however small it may be, think about how you can use what you have in order to help? If it’s giving a small amount of charity to the homeless man on the street. If it’s using your skills of being good with kids to help a single parent? If it’s your talent of singing, support your church choir.

Once again I ask, what will you do with what you have been given?

Have an amazing week!

God bless you

~ peace, love & joy x

TK