Do you use your God-given talent in the church as well as you use it for a paycheck?

I’ve had the privilege of working with many very talented people.

People whose talents were tops in their fields, their industries, their chosen careers.

Many of these people weren’t shy in letting me know that of all the professionals in their field, they were among the most talented in the country.

But when it came to their contributing those same talents for use in the church, I would have never guessed they were leaders in their respective professions.

That’s because they poured out every ounce of their talent for their jobs, but only half-heartedly and sloppily applied some of their talent in serving Christ’s church.

Funny how when the use of our talents benefit us personally, we’re focused, disciplined, and excellent in the application of our talent. But when it comes to using the talents God has given us for His glory and in His church, we give far little effort to bringing our talents to bear.

Gary Inrigh, writing in “A Call to Excellence,” tells a story of how the greatly talented will sometimes coast …

Bertoldo de Giovanni is a name even the most enthusiastic lover of art is unlikely to recognize. He was the pupil of Donatello, the greatest sculptor of his time, and he was the teacher of Michelangelo, the greatest sculptor of all time. Michelangelo was only 14 years old when he came to Bertoldo, but it was already obvious that he was enormously gifted. Bertoldo was wise enough to realize that gifted people are often tempted to coast rather than to grow, and therefore he kept trying to pressure his young prodigy to work seriously at his art.

One day he came into the studio to find Michelangelo toying with a piece of sculpture far beneath his abilities. Bertoldo grabbed a hammer, stomped across the room, and smashed the work into tiny pieces, shouting this unforgettable message, “Michelangelo, talent is cheap; dedication is costly!”

We’re quick to be dedicated in the use of our talent when it directly affects our wages, our position, our comfort, our standing among men, but too often that same level of dedication evaporates when used for Christ and His church.

Talented men and women of God, the church needs your talent … all of it, with dedication to the glory of God! The church needs your talent offered in faithfulness to the One who supplied it to you. S.D. Gordon, writing in “The Bent-Knee Time,” notes:

We have nothing to do with how much ability we’ve got, or how little, but with what we do with what we have. The man with great talent is apt to be puffed up, and the man with little (talent) to belittle the little. Poor fools! God gives it, much or little. Our part is to be faithful, doing the level best with every bit and scrap. And we will be if Jesus’ spirit controls.

What are you doing for Christ, in His church, with the talent He has given you? Have you fully devoted the use of your God-given talent to God, and for His church?

Scotty