The Use Of Gifts

Matthew 25:14-30

He called together his servants and entrusted his money to them while he was gone. (Matthew 25:14)

A YOUNG SCOTTISH PREACHER HAD tried pastoral ministry on at least a couple of occasions, but his doctrines weren’t always popular and his health didn’t always cooperate. He taught for a time as well, but he considered his years “in ministry” a failure. So he decided to do what he loved to do—what seemed to be placed in him as a gift and a passion—and wrote fantasy fiction. At a time when few people at all, and hardly any in his circles, wrote fantasy fiction, some thought he was wasting his time. But his works ended up influencing Lewis Carroll, W. H. Auden, C. S. Lewis, J. R. R. Tolkien, G. K. Chesterton, and many others—and, by extension, millions who have been influenced by such authors. Oswald Chambers thought it a pity that the Scot’s writings had been so neglected. C. S. Lewis called him his master. That’s pretty impressive fruit for a failed preacher who ended up writing stories.

The Scot’s name was George MacDonald, and he represents a multitude of people who have wanted to serve God but never fit into conventional ministry roles. In many ages of church history, including his and ours, his career path was the type to draw a lot of responses like “Why would you leave the ministry to write stories? What a waste!” But his work wasn’t a waste at all; it was far more influential than that of many of the other servants of God around him.

Jesus told a story of a master who went away and left his assets with his servants. Two invested their portions of the assets, and one buried his. Jesus commended the investors and said they were an example of how the Kingdom of God works. God gives gifts, and he expects his people to use them—not the gifts of others, not in the ways defined by others, but as they were given in ways unique to the person. Stewards are obligated to serve their master; they are free to decide how. And the diversity of ways only enhances the master’s glory.

{Lord, help me understand how you have uniquely gifted me to serve you, and give me opportunities to do it well—no matter how unconventionally, how against the grain, and how well received. You are my audience. May you be pleased with what I do. Amen.