Are you hiding your talents?
While I don’t believe in fortunes, I do believe in God and that He can speak however He wants. (Remember the adorable movie, O God II about God (starring George Burns) appearing and speaking to a little girl, Tracy Richards (Louanne Sirota), in a Chinese restaurant? He wanted Tracy to help promote Him to the world with the slogan, “Think God.”)
Yesterday, when I ordered Chinese for lunch, this is  what my fortune cookie read: “Use your talents. That’s what they are intended for.”
what my fortune cookie read
Are you using your talents or hiding them, like the servant who buried his master’s in Matthew 25:14-30? Â
Busy business woman in office
Foter.com
You’re probably familiar with this story in the Bible. A man was going on a trip and gave his three servants some of his talents, each according to their ability: he gave one 5 talents, another two, and another one talent. The first two multiplied their talents to 10 and 4, but the third servant dug in the ground and hid his talent.
After a long time, the master came back and learned what had happened to his property. He commended the first and second servants who used their talents wisely, but rebuked and punished the third servant who buried his talents:
 âThen the servant with the one bag of silver came and said, âMaster, I knew you were a harsh man, harvesting crops you didnât plant and gathering crops you didnât cultivate. I was afraid I would lose your money, so I hid it in the earth. Look, here is your money back.â
âBut the master replied, âYou wicked and lazy servant! If you knew I harvested crops I didnât plant and gathered crops I didnât cultivate,why didnât you deposit my money in the bank? At least I could have gotten some interest on it.â
âThen he ordered, âTake the money from this servant, and give it to the one with the ten bags of silver. Â To those who use well what they are given, even more will be given, and they will have an abundance. But from those who do nothing, even what little they have will be taken away. Now throw this useless servant into outer darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.â”
The servant hid his talents because of fear. Is fear holding you back from using yours? God doesn’t want you afraid. He will help you, if you step out in faith in obedience to Him.Â
“Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the LORD your God goes with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you.â~Deuteronomy 31:6
God has given you and me unique, special talents that He wants us to use for His glory and to help other people. For me, that is speaking and writing.
Beth Jones, speaking at Aglow in Olathe, KS
For you, it might be drawing art, singing, performing drama, leading people, having medical skills, playing an instrument, organizing, decorating, being good at crunching numbers, building a big business, or any number of things. Whatever your talent(s) is, don’t hide it. Shine your light for others to see.
 “God has given each of you some special abilities; be sure to use them to help each other, passing on to others Godâs many kinds of blessings. Are you called to preach? Then preach as though God himself were speaking through you. Are you called to help others? Do it with all the strength and energy that God supplies so that God will be glorified through Jesus Christâto him be glory and power forever and ever.” ~ 1 Peter 4:10-11, TLB
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Cover art: Copyright 2016 Beth Jones
Is your talent writing? Have you always wanted to write a book? Learn how to make your writing dreams come true. In my new book, How to write your book fast: Making your writing dreams come true, I share my tips and resources for how I’ve written 15 books, many of them Amazon Best Sellers. Find out more here.
