What If I Neglect My Abilities (Part 2 of 2)
THE CHURCH IS NOT STRENGTHENED
A residual benefit of Christians exercising their abilities to glorify God is that brethren are encouraged, and the church is strengthened as a result. Each Christian is vital to the functioning of the body: “Now ye are the body of Christ, and members in particular” (1 Corinthians 12:27). No one comes to the kingdom of God with the same combination of talents that you possess, nor does anyone possess those talents in the same measure as you do. This makes every person essential to the work of the church. None can claim that he or she is unimportant in the cause of our Lord (1 Corinthians 12:15-16). God has placed each obedient believer in the body for a purpose: “But now hath God set the members every one of them in the body, as it hath pleased him” (1 Corinthians 1:18). When we fail to utilize our abilities for the glory of God, we also fail to fulfill our responsibilities in the body of Christ. Notice the emphasis on the proper working of every part of the body in Ephesians 4:16: “From whom the whole body fitly joined together and compacted by that which every joint supplieth, according to the effectual working in the measure of every part, maketh increase of the body unto the edifying of itself in love” (emphasis mine, PM). When every member puts to use his talents in service to God, then the church is built up and strengthened.
SOULS WILL BE LOST
Neglecting our abilities ultimately will cost us our soul. In the parable of the ten virgins (Matthew 25:1-13), the five foolish virgins were condemned for what they failed to do, not for some gross immorality or overt wickedness on their part. In the parable of the talents (Matthew 25:14-30), the one talent man was condemned for failing to put to use that which his master had entrusted into his care. As Jesus paints a picture of the Judgment Day (Matthew 25:31-46), notice that those who are banished to eternal torment find themselves there for what they failed to do (vv.41-45). To be certain, many will be eternally lost because of the sins they have committed for which they have not received forgiveness (Revelation 21:8; 1 Corinthians 6:9 -10). But the Bible also teaches us that many will be lost for what they have failed to do: “Therefore to him that knoweth to do good, and doeth it not, to him it is sin” (James 4:17). The refusal to utilize the talents and abilities God has given us will certainly cause us to be lost, but it may also cost the souls of others as well. What a tragedy it will be to be forever banished from the presence of Almighty God because of a failure to do that which was easily within our power to do! Let us resolve to bring glory and honor to God, and in so doing draw the lost to Him, by using the talents and abilities that He has so graciously bestowed upon us. To God be the glory!
-Patrick Morrison
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