Only Two Talents

“And to one he gave five talents, to another two, and to another one, to each according to his own ability; and immediately he went on a journey.”

Matthew 25:15

The teacher in one of my classes today shared a devotional about the Parable of the Talents, drawing our attention to the guy who got 2 talents.  His devotional prompted some thoughts in my mind.  Sometimes it seems that our culture wants to place everyone on the same level.  But the fact is, though we are all equally valued in Christ, we do not all have equal talents.  No one person is better than any other person, but some people have been given more talents than others.  Some have been given a larger sphere of influence.  Some have been given greater responsibilities.  The question is not, how much do you have?  The question is:  What are you doing with what God has given you?

We do not all have equal talents, but likewise, we are talented in different ways.  My wife can teach elementary school.  That’s a job I would never want to have.  It’s not my talent.  I have a friend who is an auto mechanic.  That’s not my talent either.  But perhaps my friend would not make a good law student? 

Allow me to draw an analogy from football.  Not every quarterback in the National Football League is a Hall-of-Fame quarterback.  Someone has to be the back-up.  It’s not a glamorous job.  The guy rarely gets to play, unless the starter is hurt.  Nevertheless, his job is important (and he still gets paid pretty good!).  Many guys that are back-ups are good, but just not good enough to be a starter.  The back-up may work just as hard as the starter.  Yet, as a back-up, he may be maximizing his talents.

How many talents has God given you?  Maybe you feel like you only have two.  Cherish those talents.  Work at them.  Maximize them to their absolute fullest potential.

It’s easy to compare what we have to what someone else has.  But God has called each of us, as individuals, to run our own unique individual race.  When we live grateful for what God has given us, and live to our potential, one day we will hear Him say, “Well done, good and faithful servant; you have been faithful over a few things, I will make you ruler over many things. Enter into the joy of your lord.” (Matt. 25:23).