As a piano teacher, I have taught several children who have
what we call “musical talent.” Some of my students are very gifted and if they
continue lessons, they will advance to be very good pianists.
Recently, I read through Matthew 25, the parable about the
talents. Each servant was given a different amount of talents and each used
their talents differently. The servant with five talents doubled his talents.
Likewise did the servant with two talents. However, the servant who received
only one talent hid his. When their lord came back, he judged each servant
according to how he dealt with the talents that were given to him.
As I read this familiar parable again, I suddenly noticed
something. The slothful servant “hid his
lord’s money” then later told his lord, “[I] hid thy talents in the earth.” Did you notice it too? The talents were
never the servant’s. The talents were always
his lord’s and the end result was that the lord – not the servant – received
the glory and the benefits (see Matthew 25:26-27).
God has given each of us talents. Some of us have only one
talent while others have five or ten or twenty. It is not how many talents we have been given but what we do with the talents we have been given. They are not ours
to develop and benefit from, but to use for God’s glory. One day, God will call
us to give an account of the talents He has given us.
Are you a musician? A writer? A singer? A cook? A
seamstress? Are you using the talents that God has given you for His glory or
for your own?
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| Image from stockfreeimages.com |
If you have not read the parable of the talents recently, I encourage
you to take a moment and read it again:
Matthew 25:14-30
14 For the kingdom of heaven is as a man
travelling into a far country, who called his own servants, and delivered unto
them his goods.
15 And unto one he gave five talents, to
another two, and to another one; to every man according to his several ability;
and straightway took his journey.
16 Then he that had received the five
talents went and traded with the same, and made them other five talents.
17 And likewise he that had received two,
he also gained other two.
18 But he that had received one went and
digged in the earth, and hid his lord's money.
19 After a long time the lord of those
servants cometh, and reckoneth with them.
20 And so he that had received five
talents came and brought other five talents, saying, Lord, thou deliveredst
unto me five talents: behold, I have gained beside them five talents more.
21 His lord said unto him, Well done, thou
good and faithful servant: thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will
make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord.
22 He also that had received two talents
came and said, Lord, thou deliveredst unto me two talents: behold, I have
gained two other talents beside them.
23 His lord said unto him, Well done, good
and faithful servant; thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make
thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord.
24 Then he which had received the one
talent came and said, Lord, I knew thee that thou art an hard man, reaping
where thou hast not sown, and gathering where thou hast not strawed:
25 And I was afraid, and went and hid thy
talent in the earth: lo, there thou hast that is thine.
26 His lord answered and said unto him,
Thou wicked and slothful servant, thou knewest that I reap where I sowed not,
and gather where I have not strawed:
27 Thou oughtest therefore to have put my
money to the exchangers, and then at my coming I should have received mine own
with usury.
28 Take therefore the talent from him, and
give it unto him which hath ten talents.
29 For unto every one that hath shall be
given, and he shall have abundance: but from him that hath not shall be taken
away even that which he hath.
30 And cast ye the unprofitable servant
into outer darkness: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth. (KJV)
Amanda is a homeschool graduate
living with her parents and eleven siblings in Louisiana. Their family sings
together, sharing God’s love through music in churches and nursing homes. Until
God shows her a different path, she enjoys teaching piano and music theory,
hymn-arranging, photography, writing, spending time with her siblings, and home
economics. In the past few years, Proverbs 3:5-7 has been a passage that God
has used in her life, showing her how vital it is to trust Him in any issue.
You may visit her blog: withajoyfulnoise.blogspot.com
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