Jump Start # 3647

Matthew 25:20 “And the one who had received the five talents came up and brought five more talents, saying, ‘Master, you entrusted five talents to me; see, I have gained five more talents.”

I was in the presence of a five talent man. I have been around impressive people before. I know a former major league baseball player. I’ve golfed with the president of a college. I’ve known those who have stood on some of the greatest stages in the world. And, I have laughed, talked and enjoyed the company of each of these people. But the other day, this five talent man was so different than anyone I had met before.

First off, and most importantly, the guy is a Christian. He uses his time and effort for the kingdom of God. He preaches whenever he can and listening to him, you see the great knowledge he has in God’s word and one knows he has spent a long time with his Bible. In this man’s house are many musical instruments. Guitars adorn one wall in his house. He picked one up and immediately started playing a Dan Fogelberg song that I mentioned to him. He is so talented in music. We then went to his basement where he had an art gallery of his paintings. His work was very, very impressive. He was featured in national magazines and his paintings have won multiple awards.

He can preach. He can play music. He can paint. And, he does all of those things with excellence. When I got back to the car to leave, the person with me said, “What do you think about all that?” I said, “Well, I can brush my teeth.” It’s easy to be intimidated when in the presence of superb talent.

Here are some things to remember:

First, all of us can do something. And, all of us can do something useful and purposeful in the kingdom. God doesn’t make junk. So you might not be multi talented, you can do something, because that’s the way God made you. Much too often, we compare ourselves with others or see how well others can do things and then we just give up without even trying.

Find what you are good at. Learn more about that talent. Talk to others who are good at that. Grow and strengthen your strengths.

Second, be thankful for all the ability surrounding you and tap into it for the glory of the Lord. The kingdom needs workers who can do things physically. The kingdom needs those who excel in teaching. The kingdom needs those who can lead others to Christ. The kingdom needs those who can show others the more accurate way without crushing them.

Third, don’t be jealous of others. Instead be their friends. Be their cheerleaders. Be the one who can support those who do things well. This is how our Jump Starts have grown so far and wide. We never had a big advertising campaign. It’s been word of mouth. One telling another and before long, these little devotions are circulating the planet. In a football team, the center doesn’t get much praise and glory. He hikes the ball to the quarterback who runs the offense. Yet, without that center, none of the plays would be successful. The QB throws the ball half way down the field to an open receiver who scores the touchdown. The fans go crazy. Did you see that throw, they’ll say. Did you see that catch, they’ll say. No one says, did you see that hike? The team high-fives the QB and the receiver and the center goes to the bench to rest. But he has done his job well and without him, nothing would have gone right.

We have QBs, receivers, kickers, coaches as well as those who play the center in the kingdom. Each is necessary. Each makes our worship run smoothly and seamlessly. There are those who could never speak in a microphone. They’d freeze in fear and fright. But, as the worship is going on, they are busy pushing buttons so a host of people worldwide could watch and benefit from that worship.

The kingdom needs five talent people. The kingdom needs the two talent people. And, the kingdom, by God’s design, needs one talent people. Don’t waste time trying to figure out how many talents you have. Just be busy using them to God’s glory.

All of us will feel inferior, out of place, and embarrassed to stand in the presence of the Lord. Yet, it is the Lord who invites us to Him. Find your talent, and get busy using it.

Roger