What If I Neglect My Abilities (Part 1 of 2)
Our God is a benevolent, merciful, and giving God. He has blessed us with an innumerable host of blessings and benefits. The Almighty allows the rain to fall and the sun to shine upon us (Matthew 5:44-45). He is the provider of our daily bread (Matthew 6:11). The psalmist reminds us that it is “the Lord, who daily loadeth us with benefits” (Psalm 68:19). It is in Him that we live, move, and have our being (Acts 17:28). God is so good to us, in that He so often gives us more than the simple necessities of life. Though we should certainly be grateful for the air we breathe, the clothes we wear, the roof over our head, the food we eat, etc., God gives and does more than we can ask or imagine (Ephesians 3:20). Those who are blessed to live in this country enjoy a standard of living that the majority of the world can only dream about. It may be that we are often guilty of confining God’s blessings and goodness to material possessions only. Oh what joy and happiness we miss out on when we fail to see all of the many ways in which God showers His goodness and love upon us. Consider yourself blessed indeed if you possess a good measure of health that allows you to work and earn a living for your family. If you are surrounded by a loving family and a host of close friends, then you are blessed. How often do we remember to offer thanksgiving and praise to God for the various talents and abilities that He has granted unto each of us? We have differing levels of abilities in unique combinations and measures that make every person valuable in the Lord’s service. It is our responsibility to exercise faithful stewardship in regard to God’s manifold benefits that we are privileged to hold for a time (1 Corinthians 4:2). Being a steward necessarily implies that we will give answer to our Benefactor as to how we have used, or misused, His provisions. We must be careful that we not neglect the talents and abilities that God has entrusted to us. There are some serious consequences with which to deal if we fail to use what God has given us as He has directed us to do in His word. What results when we neglect our God-given abilities?
GOD IS NOT GLORIFIED
All that we have and all that we are is for the purpose of bringing honor and glory to our heavenly Father. So many fail to realize the reason for our existence in this world, and, therefore, misuse and abuse all of God’s magnificent benevolence. Those with little or no understanding of man’s noble purpose exploit their talents to selfish ends. Perhaps you will recall that the second wisest man the world has ever known, Solomon, attempted to find purpose and happiness in every endeavor known under the sun, only to find that all is vanity (Ecclesiastes 1:2, repeated some 12 times in this book). It was only when he realized the true reason for his existence that Solomon was able to know happiness and fulfillment: “Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God, and keep his commandments: for this is the whole duty of man” (Ecclesiastes 12:13). Paul summed life’s purpose in this manner: “According to my earnest expectation and my hope, that in nothing I shall be ashamed, but that with all boldness, as always, now also Christ shall be magnified in my body, whether it be by life, or by death. For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain” (Philippians 1:20-21). We exist in order to magnify God in all that we do. Ultimately, God receives glory only through the church (Ephesians 3:20), but that glory is brought about by members of the body of Christ using their abilities to point people to Him (Matthew 5:16). When man does not use his talents and abilities, he fails to honor Him Who created him and endowed him with his unique collection of aptitudes.
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