What are you doing with your talents?
manuelita otero
“You are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven.” (Matthew 5:14-16)
God calls us the light of the world, doesn’t that sound like a tough job? Especially in a world that sometimes seems so dark. As I read this beautiful verse, I ask myself, “Am I being light of the world? Is my life showing God’s amazing love so everyone will praise Him?” If I’m being honest, I’ll have to say not always. Sometimes I allow distractions in my life to quiet the soft whisper of God’s guidance, and many times I allow fear to stop me from taking the leaps of faith He wants me to take. Is there anything God has put in your heart, but you have been too afraid to take that first step? How would your life be if you used your talents and gifts without letting fear get in the way?
God has an amazing plan for our life, but many times instead of letting Him guide us we allow fear to stop us. God has a mission for each of us, and He has given us everything we need to achieve it. “All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.” (2 Timothy2: 16-17) We have God’s breath on a page, God is in us, and we still allow fear to stop us from achieving the mission we have been created for.
We also have strengths, certain talents and abilities that God knew we would need to pursue the dream He has put in our hearts. Maybe as a child you remember how easy it was to do what you loved or to dream things that seemed impossible, but as you grew up, instead of believing God could do amazing things through you, you started listening to people who kept telling you to “grow up” and to find a “realistic” job. The God we serve, the One and only, is able to do beyond what we can imagine, so we need to stop reducing Him to what we think is possible. We start our journey with Him and all through it we keep focusing on Him. The world will try to distract us with what it has labeled as “successful” but when we are looking at Jesus, we don’t fall for those traps. Our goal in life is to honor God, to use the talents He has given us to point people around us to Him. Our mission is to glorify Him in everything we do. “I can do everything through him who gives me strength.” (Philippians 4:13) God has high expectations for us because He is the One doing the work through us. He is a big God, shouldn’t He do big things?
“Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows.” (James 1:17) See yourself the way God sees you. Open your eyes and notice how amazingly blessed you are, how talented and beautiful you are in every way. No, you are not perfect, no one is, but you are precious. First recognize the strengths and talents God has given you, thank Him for them and ask Him to show you how to use them, because you have been created to glorify God in amazing ways.
By Manuelita