The Stewardship Page is the perfect place to recall the parable of the talents. You’re a smart bunch, so I know you remember it: Three servants are given three different sets of talents; two of them used the talents well and were rewarded by their master, but the third guy buried his and got punished (see Matthew 25:14-30). First of all, the word-lover in me would like to share with you that our current usage of the word talent stems directly from this parable. It’s not a coincidence; Jesus’ tale itself turned a word for a certain coin into a word for the special gifts we have that can be used in service to others.
Sometimes when we are given talents by God, they seem… not great. That’s how the third guy felt, I bet. I always feel a bit sorry for him when I hear this story. After all, he only got 100 talents, and the other two servants in the very same house with the very same master received way more. We have to be strong and put our pity aside to hear the real message Jesus has for us, though: it’s not about the perceived value of our talents, it’s about our response to them. Do we generously invest them on behalf of our Divine Ruler in order to prosper His Kingdom, or do we bury them in the down deep dark where they only stagnate and die? Do we honor every grace we receive — no matter how big or small — and turn it, faithfully, to His glory, or do we hoard it to ourselves — where it turns only to dust? We know from the story what the Lord expects us to do with our talents. But some of us — especially those who feel they may have received the least amount — may still be thinking, “How?”
We have three practical answers to share:
1. Ask Him! God is the One who gave you your gifts. If you are unsure how to use them, spend more quiet time in prayer. Listen well.
2. Ask Marian! Come in and talk to Marian Bart, our Christian Service Coordinator, about your life, your likes, your dreams. We have so many ministries here that could benefit from your talents… and so many untapped talents and experiences here that could help create new ministries. Let’s do some matchmaking.
3. Ask Franz! Pick up the phone and call 248-689-8380, extension 130, to talk to Franz Hoffer, our Business Manager, about the many ways you could give a portion of your treasure (big or small) back to the One who first gifted you.
May we use all of our Lord’s gifts to the benefit of His eternal kingdom, that we may hear, upon entering it, His exuberant welcome: “Well done, my good and faithful servant….Come, share your master’s joy.”