Worth Your Weight In Gold

When we use the word talent, we tend to think of a skill or ability. Perhaps an inborn aptitude, that allows us to succeed in an endeavor. That modern usage is one that has a biblical root.

In Matthew 25 Jesus tells a parable of a man that gave to his servant’s talents. The talents here were measures of money. A talent was ancient weight measurement that varied over time and cultures. It was generally thought to have originated as an approximation to about the weight of a person. So a talent of any precious metal would have been worth quite a bit.

Our modern take come from the fact the master gives to each servant according to his ability. However, I think this take misses an important point. The ability isn’t the focus, the usage is. Even the one talent man was given a hefty amount.

Too many folks dismiss their function in the kingdom thinking they are lacking in a ‘talent’ but each of us, no matter our abilities, have been given by great resources and great responsibilities. How are we using that gift? Are we living up to the master’s trust in us by investing in our efforts?

It doesn’t matter how talented you are if you are not given a chance, an opportunity. God has given each of us a chance. Are we just burying it in the ground?

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Until Midnight

In Acts 20, there is the tragicomic event surrounding a young man by the name of Eutychus. He did what a lot of folks before and after him did, he fell asleep during a sermon. Unfortunately, he was setting in in the third story window at the time. So instead of nodding off and hitting the pew in front of him, he fell to his death. The good news was the apostle Paul was delivering the sermon and had the ability to bring him back. I don’t know, however, if we can judge Eutychus too harshly. The sermon had gone on till midnight. Paul wouldn’t finish it up till daybreak. That’s a long lesson. I know some folks that might want to jump out of a window if I had a lesson that long, yet these Christians wanted to be there to hear Paul. Don’t get me wrong, I’m not pushing for all night sermons but I think we might need to adopt these folks' dedication. They knew that Paul was only in town for a limited time only and they were determined to ...

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William Cowper didn’t see any reason to live. He decided that he’d jump off the bridge over the Thames. So, he called a cab to take him there. But that night in 1763, a thick fog enveloped London. It was so thick the cab driver couldn’t find the bridge and couldn’t even find the way to take William home. In frustration, he ordered the driver to stop and get out to get his bearings. He walked up to the nearest house to read the number and it was William's house. Gone now were William’s thoughts of suicide and instead a new idea came into his head. So, he went in and wrote these words: God moves in mysterious ways His wonders to perform. He plants his footsteps in the sea And rides upon the storm. You fearful saints, fresh courage take; The clouds you so much dread Are big with mercy and shall break In blessings on your head. I sometimes wish we could see all the ways God watches over us when need it. There are...

Ecclesiastes 12:10

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