Theme: THE GIFTS OF THE HOLY SPIRIT
Text: “Take therefore the talent from him, and give it unto him which hath ten talents. 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.” – Matthew 25:28,29.
Comment: Jesus Christ used the parable of the talents recorded in Matthew 25:14-30 to teach his disciples the value His Father and himself place on productivity or fruitfulness. The text for today is the sentence on the “unprofitable servant” who refused to utilize the talent given to him. Christ went further to say that whosoever has and uses his talents shall be given more, but that whosoever has and fails to use it shall lose it. The gifts given to us by the Holy spirit include those of preaching effectively to unbelievers, willingness to support God’s work (Exodus 35:21) liberality towards the needy, gifts of music such as singing or playing of musical instruments, effective organizational skills (administration) etc. Apostle Paul’s charge to Timothy, applies to us even more today, saying “Neglect not the gift that is in thee” and also “…that thou stir up the gift of God which is in thee…” (1 Timothy 4:14; 2 Timothy 1:6) There is great spiritual danger in neglecting gifts given to us by God through His Holy spirit. Not only that the Church is deprived of the benefits of the gift, the believer will lose the blessings to be derived from putting it to maximal use. “Jesus answered and said unto her, If thou knewest the gift of God, and who it is that saith to thee, Give me to drink; thou wouldest have asked of him, and he would have given thee living water.” – John 4:10.