Faithfulness, Whether You’re a Five- or a One-Talent Servant

[We are pleased to announce that Beth Wahl, the leader of Women's Ministry at Front Range Alliance Church, has joined the Cross to Crown blogging team. You will find her writing to be insightful, thought-provoking, and Christ-exalting.]

 

Last week, the Lord provided a morning of refreshment at a tea for Women’s Ministry leaders. The speaker for this event, LuAnne Crane, is one of the co-hosts on Dr. Dobson’s new radio show. She spoke on the Parable of the Talents. One of her points is closely connected to the theme of Walking by the Spirit. She noted that the reward is the same whether one has received five talents or two talents. As I listened to her, I thought, “It doesn’t matter whether we have five talents, two talents, or even one, as long as we are faithful to use what He has given.” We are endowed with what the Lord has determined so there is no reason to compare. We each have abilities, spiritual gifts, and experience that are united in us as He decides. If we faithfully do what the Lord gives us to do each day, using those gifts, abilities, and experience, we are going to hear, “Well done, good and faithful servant.”

Our responsibility is to ask, “What have You ordained for my day, Lord?” Then, throughout the day, as the Spirit prompts, we are to respond in obedience without grumbling and complaining. It sounds easy and straight-forward, but we all know that the doing is the most difficult part of our spiritual lives. So how are any of us, whether a one talent or a five talent servant, able to bring Him glory through faithful obedience? We do this through the power of the Spirit. We do so because we know our Master well. He has given His strength through the indwelling Spirit. The one talent servant missed that this was his responsibility mainly because he thought so little of his master. He would have received the very same reward if he had taken what the Lord had given and used it.

The Lord has bestowed talents on you, and whatever the number, ask the Lord to order your days and by His power have His strength to use them for His glory. This is true in every season and every aspect of life: our work outside the home, our work in our homes, our relationships, every aspect of education, and all the gracious gifts with which we are to bless the body of Jesus Christ.

As we walk by the Spirit, may we prepare for the day when we hear those lovely words—“Well done…”

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