Parable of Talents Explained, God has a Plan, are You Ready?

The Parable of Talents

We all have unique talents as God has a plan for everyone. Do we have the patients and motivation to use our talents for a cause greater than ourselves?

God provides everyone with unique talents and opportunities. Sadly, most people never discover their own God-given purpose for life or utilize these special abilities. And if they do, they only use them for their own self-interest, when they are also meant to be used without ego to help others and promote God’s glory.

In 1st Peter 4:10 it says:

“As each has received a gift, use it to serve one another,

as good stewards of God's varied grace”

Here is a question. What does it mean to be a Christian? Anyone can publicly claim to be a Christian, go to Church and tithe in a public setting. In reality, the defining aspect of a true Christian is located in their heart and mind and whether they have an honest and active relationship with God which should inspire them to do good works.

Discovering Your Best Friend!!!

Understanding that everyone sins and realizing that we need God’s help is a first step for any Christian who seeks God's guidance. Spiritual growth is all about having a committed RELATIONSHIP with God. Following through and having the commitment and will power to translate this knowledge to one’s physical life, thoughts and habits, is another story.

One of the first steps for an honest Christian is to discipline the mind by investing your time in prayer and reading the Bible. In time, we gain more control over our train of thought and our own motivations. Once this happens, our purpose, our talents and our path become clearer. This is when the unexpected will happen. And on occasion, miraculous events can occur.

Parable of Talents

In Matthew 25: 14-18 we read about the Parable of Talents. This parable is actually referring to money, but it is also a great analogy to the modern use of the word when referring to one's capabilities.

“14 For it will be like a man going on a journey,

who called his servants and entrusted to them his property.

15 To one he gave five talents, to another two, to another one,

to each according to his ability. Then he went away.

16 He who had received the five talents went at once and traded with them,

and he made five talents more.

17 So also he who had the two talents made two talents more.

18 But he who had received the one talent went

and dug in the ground and hid his master's money.”

In other words, if we want to be blessed with greater talents and do great things for the Lord, how can we expect God to trust us with more, when we are not able to recognize or utilize the talents we already have?

Wasted talent is one of the most common shortcomings for Christians around the World. Reading the Bible, going to Church and tithing are all good things to do. But what we do in between each Sunday, when we interact with the World, is often when our talents are needed and best utilized.

Going to church is our opportunity to learn from experienced leaders and other Christians similar to practicing for an upcoming sporting event. When any Christian then goes away from Church and into the World, this is our proverbial "Game Time" and our chance to represent God to the masses!

For all Christians, we have to gain the confidence to take a chance, face uncomfortable situations and overcome fear and possible rejection. Normally, the easiest option is to not get involved or take a chance. With faith and motivation we can actually make a decisive difference in helping others by doing good deeds and sharing the gospel.

Yet it is each of our God-given talents that could change the world for the better with the message found in the Bible. The key word here is “could”. History tells us that when Christians work together, societal change and great revivals have occurred countless times over the last two thousand years. And they can still occur today.

Talents are the ability to extend God’s blessings by: communicating, care-giving, using trade skills, teaching and counseling as just a few examples. For some it may be career-related. Whether you are an engineer, a truck driver or a dishwasher, we all have opportunities to use our talents to witness and/or represent. We do not always determine our talents or how many we have. But we can control how and when we use them.

Sometimes using our talents can be surprisingly simple. Opening doors in life and fulfilling talents can sometimes start with a simple state of mind. One of my favorite sayings is:

"The most important thing you can wear is the expression on your face."

This is a perfect example of what the Bible refers to when it mentions the "Armor of God". The Armor of God is made out of our outwardly strength in the Lord. Being in good spirits and our joyful appearance to others is the first step outwardly in representing God.

The Bible often refers to those who are able to discover and use their talents for the Lord as bearing fruit like a tree.

"So as to walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing to him, bearing fruit in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God." Colossians 1:10

Once we develop an honest relationship with God and understand our purpose as a Christian, we have the capability to discover our God given talents.

Matthew 7:7-11 exposes the potential we all have in working with the Lord.

7 “Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find;

knock, and it will be opened to you.

8 For everyone who asks receives, and the one who seeks finds,

and to the one who knocks it will be opened.

9 Or which one of you, if his son asks him for bread, will give him a stone?

10 Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a serpent?

11 If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give good things to those who ask him!"

We all have unique talents! By building a lasting relationship with the Lord, your talents will be revealed as they bear fruit for the glory of God. Life is obviously not easy though. God does not always take our problems away, but in the next lesson page we discuss how He will teach us how to learn and grow from personal strife and painful situations.