Do responsibilities come with the abilities I have been given?
Matthew 25:14-15, 29“The Kingdom of Heaven can be illustrated by the story of a man going on a long trip. He called together his servants and entrusted his money to them while he was gone. He gave five bags of silver to one, two bags of silver to another, and one bag of silver to the last—dividing it in proportion to their abilities . . . To those who use well what they are given, even more will be given, and they will have an abundance. But from those who do nothing, even what little they have will be taken away.”
Matthew 25:21“Well done, my good and faithful servant. You have been faithful in handling this small amount, so now I will give you many more responsibilities.”
Luke 12:48“When someone has been given much, much will be required in return; and when someone has been entrusted with much, even more will be required.”
God gives each of us different abilities, resources, experiences, relationships, and opportunities. With these gifts come responsibility. We may assume that because we aren’t a famous athlete, missionary, businessperson, singer, speaker, or author, we haven’t been given a great deal of talent or responsibility. But every parent holds the massive responsibility of training up a child. Every neighbor has the opportunity to follow in the footsteps of the Good Samaritan. And every follower of Jesus is entrusted with the glorious gift of God’s love, to be invested in the lives around them.
It doesn’t take a famous speaker to speak a word of wisdom and encouragement to a child. It doesn’t take a spectacular musician to lift the spirits of a lonely widow. It doesn’t take an experienced missionary to share the gospel with a friend. Even if you are the servant in the parable who was given only one talent, that talent is a combination of abilities, resources, experiences, relationships, and opportunities that no one else has been given. God has entrusted this to you. Steward it well.
1 Corinthians 12:7A spiritual gift is given to each of us so we can help each other.
1 Corinthians 12:17-18If the whole body were an eye, how would you hear? Or if your whole body were an ear, how would you smell anything? But our bodies have many parts, and God has put each part just where he wants it.
1 Corinthians 14:26When you meet together, one will sing, another will teach, another will tell some special revelation God has given, one will speak in tongues, and another will interpret what is said. But everything that is done must strengthen all of you.
Ephesians 4:12Their responsibility is to equip God’s people to do his work and build up the church, the body of Christ.
God has given each of us different gifts for blessing the body of Christ. Each of us was shaped to fill the needs of others.
Colossians 3:17, 23–24Whatever you do or say, do it as a representative of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks through him to God the Father. . . . Work willingly at whatever you do, as though you were working for the Lord rather than for people. Remember that the Lord will give you an inheritance as your reward, and that the Master you are serving is Christ.
1 Timothy 4:7–8Train yourself to be godly. Physical training is good, but training for godliness is much better, promising benefits in this life and in the life to come.
No matter what our natural gifts and abilities, we can all exercise spiritual disciplines that will train us for godliness. God wants this for everyone.
John 17:4“I brought glory to you here on earth by completing the work you gave me to do.”
Jesus’ mission in life was pleasing God the Father. This is the ultimate purpose for all of us. We, too, are called to bring glory to God through all we say and do, in all times, places, circumstances, and with all our abilities.
