Use Your Talent And Skills
Mat 25:14 For the kingdom of heaven is as a man travelling into a far country, who called his own servants, and delivered unto them his goods. 15 And unto one he gave five talents, to another two, and to another one; to every man according to his several ability; and straightway took his journey. 16 Then he that had received the five talents went and traded with the same, and made them other five talents. 17 And likewise he that had received two, he also gained other two. 18 But he that had received one went and digged in the earth, and hid his lord’s money.
Dic. noun

1. A special natural ability or aptitude:
   A talent for drawing.
   Synonyms: genius, gift, capability
2. A capacity for achievement or success; ability:
   Young men of talent.
3. A power of mind or body considered as given to a person for use and improvement: so called from the parable in Matthew 25:14–30.
   You have to recognise your talents and skill, work on them and work with them.
   Who gave the talents?
   Why were the talents given? These questions should be answered.
   ACTIONS NEEDED
4. Recognise the talents the Master had given you.
5. Train and develop your talents
6. Start working with your talents on God given areas.
7. You must make profit.
   The man that had five and the other one that had two both gained hundred percent.
   There is no room for competitions, comparatives, coping, envying,
   Romans 14:4 Who art thou that judgest another man’s servant? to his own master he standeth or falleth. Yea, he shall be holden up: for God is able to make him stand.
   2 Corinthians 10:12 For we dare not make ourselves of the number, or compare ourselves with some that commend themselves: but they measuring themselves by themselves, and comparing themselves among themselves, are not wise.
   You do not need to copy or compare because you do not have exactly the same talents, they are shades.
   CASES TO CONSIDER
   JOSEPH
   The talent was interpretation of dreams.
   His brothers sold him into slavery and from slavery to imprisonment.
   When he had opportunity even in the prison to use the talent, he quickly took it and helped the palace workers without making personal gain of them. That later led to another given opportunity which he did without plan of any personal gain and that opened the door to his God given position for his mission on earth.

MOSES Acts 7:22 And Moses was learned in all the wisdom of the Egyptians, and was mighty in words and in deeds.
He had the highest educational level of his time and had the skills of shepherding and knowledge of the desert.
All these were used to lead the people out of bondage and he could write the books from Genesis to Deuteronomy.

JOSHUA
Exodus 33:11 And the LORD spake unto Moses face to face, as a man speaketh unto his friend. And he turned again into the camp: but his servant Joshua, the son of Nun, a young man, departed not out of the tabernacle.

1. He was patient,
2. He developed closeness with God
3. He was loyal to God and his master Moses
4. He developed the skills for war and he could be allowed to captain the army.
   Eventually, when God picked him, all these worked for him.
   When he and Caleb stood for the right when they were reporting their spy work, Caleb was highly recommended by God and a public pronouncement of blessings were laid on him. Nothing was said about Joshua at that time even though they both served faithfully and stood loyally. He did not murmur or grumble. Eventually God picked him even above Caleb to replace Moses as the National leader.
   Never envy, copy or compare, God is All-Wise, All-Knowing and in due time He will reward you.
   DAVID
   The talent was music. He developed his music into playing instrument and composing songs.
   Whenever he was free, he took the opportunity to develop. No wonder, the palace recognised him – Proverbs 22:29 Seest thou a man diligent in his business? he shall stand before kings; he shall not stand before mean men.
   In his personal time, he developed loyal relationship with God.
   When he was called to go to the battlefield, he could not say no!
   His love for God made him to fight Goliath against all oppositions.
   Yes! He suffered but he fulfilled his purpose of his existence.

PAUL
Acts 22:3 I am verily a man which am a Jew, born in Tarsus, a city in Cilicia, yet brought up in this city at the feet of Gamaliel, and taught according to the perfect manner of the law of the fathers, and was zealous toward God, as ye all are this day.
 He was a great scholar
 He was born a Roman citizen yet from the tribe Benjamin.
 He could speak fluently the great language of the day, Greek and could still speak his mother-tongue.
All these helped him to go farther than the other apostles whom he met in the faith.
He wrote nine books out of twenty-seven books of the New Testament.
He became the apostle to the gentiles
He fulfilled his ministry.
REMEMBER

1. No copy work
2. No comparison
3. No envying
4. But labour
   1 Corinthians 15:10 But by the grace of God I am what I am: and his grace which was bestowed upon me was not in vain; but I laboured more abundantly than they all: yet not I, but the grace of God which was with me.
   After seeing these cases, we need to ask ourselves these questions –
5. What talents do I have?
6. What skills have I acquired?
7. What knowledge have I got?
8. What ability do I have?
9. Am I using ALL of them and directing them to the call of my life to satisfy the Great God who created me for Himself?
   Isaiah 43:7 Even every one that is called by my name: for I have created him for my glory, I have formed him; yea, I have made him.
   Isaiah 43:21 This people have I formed for myself; they shall shew forth my praise.
   THINGS TO NOTE
10. Today, many of our General Overseers, General Superintendent, Bishops, Archbishops, and the rest great titles, have succeeded in making us to do what they want and not what God wants us to do..
11. The positions they have put us is such that some of us cannot use our talents, gifts or skills there.
12. They try to use us to fulfil their visions without allowing us to even discover our own.
13. Today, the type of messages we receive do not spur us to pray and ask- …what wilt thou have me to do? Acts 9:6
14. Christians are lazy about the things of God Jer 4:22 For my people is foolish, they have not known me; they are sottish children, and they have none understanding: they are wise to do evil, but to do good they have no knowledge.
15. We are wise in our business areas but foolish in the things of God.
16. We are busy pursuing the things of this world and forgetting that we shall soon leave them behind.
17. Many of us love to please men, be recognize and applaud by men without thinking about The Supreme God who created us for Himself.
    Isaiah 43:7 Even every one that is called by my name: for I have created him for my glory, I have formed him; yea, I have made him.
    Isaiah 43:21 This people have I formed for myself; they shall shew forth my praise.
18. Have you ever asked yourself why you are alive?
19. If you die today, where will you be?
20. Remember that you will never receive a “WELLDONE” when the work you are given is not DONE WELL!!