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Why do we need to have confidence in our talents? Without the recognition of our gifts and the desire to develop them, God can’t use us for his purposes.
We all have a unique and specific role to play in God’s kingdom. When we fail to develop or exercise our gifts—for whatever reason—then the work God has for us may never be accomplished! The more we step out in faith in developing and exercising our gifts, the more God will use us to build his kingdom.
Sheila grew up in a single-parent, low-income home. In high school, the many hours she had to work at various part-time jobs left her little time to focus on her studies, and consequently she didn’t earn high grades. After graduation, she got a full-time job serving tables at a local restaurant.
One day the owner of the restaurant approached Sheila and asked her if she was interested in becoming a manager. Sheila hesitated. She didn’t think she was capable of taking on such responsibility. What if she took the position and then discovered that she couldn’t do it? She thanked him for the offer but said that she didn’t think the job was for her.
Several months later, the owner approached her again with the same offer. He told her that he was impressed with the way she interacted with the customers and with the other staff. He believed she could do the job and do it well. This time Sheila decided to give it a try. After a few weeks of training, she plunged in. There were definitely moments when she felt panicked and wondered how to handle a new or difficult situation. Each time, she sent up a quick prayer to God for wisdom, and each time he helped her through.
As Sheila’s confidence increased, so did her management skills. She realized that God had given her gifts in this area and that she should develop them for his glory. With the encouragement of the owner, she decided to take classes at the local community college. Sheila eventually earned a college degree. Then she took a position managing volunteers and fundraising at a local nonprofit agency that helped single mothers with job training and employment.
Scripture: Acts 18:1-4, 18-19, 24-28
After this Paul left Athens and went to Corinth. There he found a Jew named Aquila, a native of Pontus, who had recently come from Italy with his wife Priscilla, because Claudius had ordered all Jews to leave Rome. Paul went to see them, and, because he was of the same trade, he stayed with them, and they worked together—by trade they were tentmakers. Every sabbath he would argue in the synagogue and would try to convince Jews and Greeks… .
After staying there for a considerable time, Paul said farewell to the believers and sailed for Syria, accompanied by Priscilla and Aquila. At Cenchreae he had his hair cut, for he was under a vow. When they reached Ephesus, he left them there… .
Now there came to Ephesus a Jew named Apollos, a native of Alexandria. He was an eloquent man, well-versed in the scriptures. He had been instructed in the Way of the Lord; and he spoke with burning enthusiasm and taught accurately the things concerning Jesus, though he knew only the baptism of John. He began to speak boldly in the synagogue; but when Priscilla and Aquila heard him, they took him aside and explained the Way of God to him more accurately. And when he wished to cross over to Achaia, the believers encouraged him and wrote to the disciples to welcome him. On his arrival he greatly helped those who through grace had become believers, for he powerfully refuted the Jews in public, showing by the scriptures that the Messiah is Jesus.
1. Why do you think Aquila and Priscilla set sail with Paul in order to accompany him on his missionary journey? Do you think they might have doubted that they had the gifts and talents to become missionaries? If so, what might have convinced them to go?
2. What effect did Aquila and Priscilla have on Apollos? How did their actions demonstrate that they had confidence in God’s gifts to them?
3. What talent of Apollos did God use to spread the faith? How was that talent nurtured and developed?
From the Church:
The “talents” are not distributed equally… . These differences belong to God’s plan, who wills that each receive what he needs from others, and that those endowed with particular “talents” share the benefits with those who need them. These differences encourage and often oblige persons to practice generosity, kindness, and sharing of goods. (Catechism, 1936, 1937)
1. Why is it important to use the talents God gives us? What happens when we fail to use our talents?
2. Why does God give different talents to different people? Why is it important to keep this truth in mind when considering what our own talents may be?
3. How often do you think of your talents in relation to yourself rather than to others? How can a focus on others in assessing your talents give you more confidence in yourself and your gifts?
For Further Reflection and Discussion:
1. Do you have trouble identifying your gifts? Why or why not? Looking over your life, how have you been able to develop your natural gifts?
2. Are there gifts you have developed that don’t come naturally to you? If so, how were you able to develop these gifts? In what ways can you rely more on the Lord for the gifts you still think you need?
3. Have you ever asked the Lord how he wants you to use your gifts in service to the body of Christ? If you asked him that question, what might he say to you?
4. How can you encourage the young people in your life to see their talents and potential careers as gifts from God to build his kingdom? How does such a view differ from how the secular world views career choices and development?
An excerpt from the book Living as a Confident Daughter of God by Patricia Mitchell.
Identifying my gifts is simple these days, look for the fruit. I may THINK I have a talent, a knack, or a gift. It has been my experience that if there is no fruit there really is no gift.
My father had been in the constuction business for 38 years when some bad business decisions along with a bad economy, lead to the collapse of our family owned, family operated business. I had just quit college after five years of something I left the university without a degree. I went home ready to work, to do something different than what I was doing, even if it was work. For two years I watched the demise and ultimately the dismanteling of a business that was not just a business but our life. To say that hurt would be kind. I was suddenly without a job, without a career path. I did have however, have a wife a baby and a mortgage.
I went to work selling power tools, I took home less than three hundred dollars per week wether I needed it all or not. We were broke and miserable. My dad was living on Social Security. He was just as miserable. One day we were talking and concluded that we needed to do something different. He suggested we try to do some asphalt patching. I didn’t argue. Again anything would be better than what it was. Our little business was constantly floundering. We never had any money but we always had work. We struggled on. Never knowing why. We simply pushed forward because it was better than the alternative.
In the next 25 years I would get to know my got to know my dad in ways that I never knew him in my first 25 years. I am grateful to have seen my dad’s character. I am glad to have gone through the struggles together with him. I am actually glad that we went out of business. If we hadn’t, we would never have known each other like we do today. There wouldn’t be the relationship that there is.
Seeing the fruit is difficult even when you are in the middle of the orchard. All the tough times, they were the blessing. I didn’t want to go back into the construction business. No way, not after what I saw it do to my dad. I “developed” a knack for contracting. I didn’t like it mind you, I tolerated it. But God saw it otherwise. He gave us the gifts we needed to survive and to prosper. And He gave them to us when we needed them. He was there pruning all along. I see it now. The gifts were hard work, (imagine that being a gift) family, the love and respect that we developed for each other, the love that we came to know by employing other families, celebrating the jobs we got, regretting the ones that we lost. The gifts were the talents that God gave each of us to prosper in the business. The fruit was the relationships that have been built within our family with our God. I wouldn’t trade one moment.
God, let me see all your gifts today. Let me see them when you present them, not sometime down the road. Let me be Your gift for aother.