Theme: Making the most of our talents in the work of God
Text: “For I say, through the grace given unto me, to every man that is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think; but to think soberly, according to as God hath dealt with every man the measure of faith. For as we have many members in one body, and all members have not the same office: So we, being many, are one body in Christ, and every one members one of another.” – Romans 12:3-5.
Comment: St. Paul in a number of his epistles explained that since God in His goodness has endowed us with different gifts or talents, we should be diligent in making full use of them within the bounds of order, decency, faith, understanding and above all, Christian charity. He builds on this point in his letter to the Christians in Rome thus: “Having then gifts differing according to the grace that is given to us, whether prophecy, let us prophesy according to the proportion of faith; Or ministry, let us wait on our ministering: or he that teacheth, on teaching…” – Romans 12:3-7
The mistake some make is to judge others’ contributions as unimportant or less important than their own and so they begin to lose focus in the work of God. They become filled with the sense of their own importance and start nursing ambitions for what God had not purposed for them. Such ones may also deride others, who are also working for their own salvation according to the measure of grace given them. It is God Who makes the decision as to what talent each should get. And He gives one the opportunities to use them. Scripture says: “For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure.” – Philippians 2:13. See also Romans 14:4