In The Master's Service

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USING, MISUSING AND BURYING TALENTS

Elder Wayne Crocker

We are all familiar with the parable of Jesus regarding the five, two, and one talents (Matthew 25:14-30). The giving of the talents to every man was "according to his several ability...." The one who was given five and the one who was given two put them to use and doubled what was initially given. Due to his fearfulness the one who had been given one buried it. The lord pronounced a blessing upon the ones that had put to use the talents they were given. The one who had failed to apply what he had been given was severely rebuked and was cast into outer darkness.

This parable is most surely applicable to all of us who are blessed to be in the kingdom of heaven today. We should be thankful for what the Lord has given us, and continually put it to the best use possible. There will be great blessings to us and there will be prosperity within the kingdom of heaven (the church) when we use what we have been given in a manner that will bring glory to God.

We lose what we do not use. This is true regarding our physical body. It is true regarding our mind. It is thought by some medical authorities that by keeping our minds active we may delay or avoid various dreaded problems with our thinking ability. Paul tells us to renew our minds "that we may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect will of God" (Romans 12:2). He is referring to our spiritual welfare, which is made healthier by studying, meditating, and hearing the word of God proclaimed.

Hopefully, we will not be like the servant who buried the one talent he had been given. But I am convinced we all fail at one time or another to really use what the Lord has given us. It seems this would be a partial burying of the talent. Furthermore, we can take a talent or ability the Lord has given us, and misuse it.

We may have been given a pleasing voice for singing. If so, for the most part we should use it to sing praises to the Lord. We should never misuse it by singing songs that are indecent or immoral. We should take advantage of training that we might be able to sing better. But, even should we become a master of music, we can still misuse this talent. In our effort to achieve perfection in the church song service, we can offend those with less talent and destroy the spirit of the service. A good production may replace true worship!

If we have a reasonably sound mind and the ability to read and comprehend, the Lord requires us to spend time in reading his word. If we have been given ears to hear, we should avail ourselves of the opportunity to hear the gospel proclaimed. We should discipline ourselves to pay attention to the preaching. We bury our talent when we fail to do so.

With whatever financial resources the Lord has blessed us to have, whether by inheritance or by using some ability He has given us to acquire material things, we should willingly give to the cause of Christ. "Upon the first day of the week let every one of you lay by him in store, as God hath prospered him..." (I Corinthians 16:2). We should freely give to the relief of those in need. "Hereby perceive we the love of God, because he laid down his life for us: and we ought to lay down our lives for the brethren. But whoso hath this world's good, and seeth his brother have need, and shutteth up his bowels of compassion from him, how dwelleth the love of God in him?" (I John 3:16-17).

In failing to give to the furtherance of the cause of Christ and relief of the poor, we bury the talent the Lord has given. When we do so, what we have will be taken away in one way or another. We make keep our material wealth, but not be able to enjoy it or have the joy of our salvation. But, the scriptures teach that usually a person who gives freely will be blessed with greater material abundance than would be the case should he fail to give.

This principle is taught in Haggai as he instructs God's people to cease from their covetousness and built back the house of God. The people wanted to put it off. Their excuse was that it was not the time to build. God's answer was: "Ye have sown much, and bring it little; ye eat, but ye have not enough; ye drink, but ye are not filled with drink, yeclothe you, but there is none warm; and he that earneth wages earneth wages to put it into a bag with holes" (Haggai 1:6). These people were losing their talent by burying it.

Every child of God has been given talents and abilities, some more, some less. For God's kingdom to prosper as it should on earth, everyone needs to put to the best use possible whatever the Lord has given. Paul teaches the importance of every member of the body of Christ occupying his or her place (I Corinthians 12: 14-31). The person with one or two talents should not be concerned that he does not have five talents. Rather he should thankfully putto use what he has. When he does so, the Lord will bless him and the church.

Without a doubt the use or misuse of talents by the ministry has a greater impact upon the cause of Christ than that of other members of the body. It is so important that we continually put to use what the Lord has provided and labor diligently where the Lord has placed us. Like any other child of God, a minister can use, misuse or bury the talent or talents the Lord has provided. Let's consider a few of the things we should do to make the best use of our several abilities: First of all a minister must take heed unto himself (I Timothy 4: 16) and keep under his body "and bring it into subjection" (I Corinthians 9:27). In other words, he must live a moral life that is beyond reproach. If he fails in this, his talent is buried in spite of the abilities he may have to understand and proclaim God's word.

The minister must pray, study and meditate upon the word of God on a consistent basis. "Take heed unto thyself, and unto the doctrine; continue in them: for in doing this thou shalt both save thyself, and them that hear thee" (I Timothy 4:16). "Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth" (II Timothy 2:15).

He must willingly preach the word when he feels good and when he feels bad. He must pro claim the whole counsel of God, whether or not the people want to hear the message. "Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine" (II Timothy 4:2).

A minister should never preach himself. "For we preach not ourselves, but Christ Jesus the Lord; and ourselves your servants for Jesus' sake" (II Corinthians 4:5). A minister should limit the telling of personal experiences to the extent needed to bring out a good point in his message. Too much emphasis on self removes the focus from Christ to the individual preacher. Regardless of the, ability to hold the attention of the audience by telling interesting things about himself, if it is not handled carefully the people many times will be glorifying the preacher rather than the Lord. On the other hand others who may or may not know the preacher well will come to the conclusion that he is lifting himself up in pride and be turned away from him and his message. We ministers can certainly bury or misuse our talents in this matter. May the Lord help us to be "determined not to know anything" among the people of God except "Jesus Christ, and him crucified" (I Corinthians 2:2).

A minister should constantly and prayerfully seek to better communicate God's message to the flock. Pulpit mannerisms should be given attention. We should find acceptable words that are understandable. We should try to speak in a manner, to get and hold the attention of the audience. A preacher's wife will often provide much help in this respect. We need to listen and heed her godly counsel. Preaching so loud that those with sensitive ears are hurt, or so softly and in a monotone so that we will not be heard should be avoided.

Since Jesus taught so often in parables, ministers should search for illustrations that will better communicate the truths of God's word to the flock. Most of our illustrations should come directly from the Bible. There are many available, and more powerful than the ones we come up with.

Just as too much emphasis on self removes the focus away from Christ, the telling of funny stories or jokes can do the same. Make sure that any amusing stories are used to illustrate points of truth and limit their use that the solemnity of the worship service is not compromised. If we make excessive use of humor, we bury or misuse the talent the Lord has given us.

A minister is not only responsible for feeding the flock on Sunday morning, but is to be an overseer. "Feed the flock of God which is among you, taking the oversight thereof, not by constraint, but willingly; not for filthy lucre, but of a ready mind; Neither as being lords over God's heritage, but being ensamples to the flock" (I Peter 5:2-3). We in the ministry fail often to visit and stay in contact with members of the church as much as we should, especially the sick and the old-aged shut-ins. This failure is a partial burying of the talent the Lord has provided.

More could be said about this but would probably not be expedient. In conclusion, may we, in whatever vocation we have been called to serve the Lord, keep in mind the words of Jesus: "Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven" (Matthew 5:16). If and when we seek glory for ourselves, we bury our talent.