Don’t stop people from using their talents

It is a simple fact that you shouldn’t measure up what you do against what others do. You are not required to copy another human being, as you don’t have the same amount of gifts and talents as them. You are only accountable to God for your own talents and the fruit you bear, and not those of another person. See Matthew 25:13-30.

The Bible says that the more you have been given, the more will be demanded of you. The race to the finishing line is with you, and not with another person. You therefore shouldn’t compare yourself to another person. Do you listen to Jesus Christ’s voice and use the talents and gifts he has given you? Jesus Christ is coming back soon and preparing the world for his return should be teamwork, therefore you should encourage one another to be ready to welcome Him with pure hearts.

Everyone who is a disciple is the Lord’s instrument and has a part to play in his ministry. No one is better than another person. There was a case of a couple who had a ministry and yet they discouraged another couple from starting off their own ministry instead of encouraging them. There are also others who have succeeded in a ministry, but don’t want to help others.  There was a case of a couple who worked for years for a ministry and when the director found out that they were evangelizing elsewhere he tried to trample on their work by saying that they should have asked for his permission first. No one needs permission from a human being to evangelize because we must put God before man and do what Jesus Christ commands us to do which is to spread the Good News.

They felt as if it was competition and rivalry, rather than teamwork for the Lord’s glory. Another story was a lady who was so jealous of someone else’s talents that jealousy ate at her heart so much so that at night she couldn’t sleep. Her attitude was totally ridiculous because gifts and talents come from God.  If you are a true child of God, you have no right to behave that way because Jesus can give anybody gifts and talents and nobody should be jealous of one another’s talents, for jealousy doesn’t come from God but the evil one, and no one has the right to stop people using their talents on the contrary we should be encouraging one another to use their talents for God’s Kingdom to give the Lord honour and glory, and not for our own personal glory, otherwise it becomes self-pride if it is for yourself in order to feel great and to be looked upon and to be even idolized.

Some people try to stop others including women from using their talents. Yet Jesus clearly told us to use our talents. See Matthew 25:14-30. If you stop someone from obeying Jesus, you could be held responsible for their talents not being used, also you will be held responsible for the way you treat another person because it is the way you treat Jesus Christ, for whatever you do to another person you do to the Lord. See Matthew 25:40

See how men, women and children can be used as God’s instruments in furthering His Kingdom. The following passage shows that the Spirit of the Lord will fall on everyone as seen in Joel 2:28. Discipleship is a step further from Christianity, as it is giving a total commitment to the Lord. Everyone who is a disciple has a ministry and all talents are important, and your aim should be to make Jesus the centre of your Life and to point to Him and to encourage others to know God and to have a personal, intimate relationship with Him.

A ministry without love means nothing. Too many people have a ministry, but don’t have time for God. That is totally wrong! The ministry then becomes an idol. The most important thing first of all is to have time for Jesus and to let Him fill you with His love, so that you can go out into the world with His love, which is in your heart to reach those in distress and those who need converting. It is being like a little child who is totally dependent on Jesus in everything, and throughout the day being aware that He is by your side loving you. Do everything out of love for Jesus and tell the Lord a number of times that you love Him? Are you so close to God that you live in Him, and He lives in you?

Most of all, it is realizing that it isn’t your own personal ministry, but the Lord’s ministry. A ministry can be large or small. It doesn’t matter, but it depends on how much time you have on your hands or how much responsibility you have. Most of all, it is putting love on at all times, and being kind and loving in order to be a Blessing to everyone you meet all day long, and not when you choose to do so. It is even giving a beautiful smile to everyone you meet. We believe though that we bear much fruit with the gift of love.

Written by Marie-Helene and Dominic Bradshaw

E-mail: [email protected]