Putting your Talents to Work
Mark Drabenstott
What unique talents did God put inside of you? And how are you using them for the Lord? These core questions are at the heart of a new WCF initiative called, Putting Your Talents to Work. Our Creator has given each of us a distinct set of talents by the wondrous work of His grace. And when we appreciate what God has also done for us through His beloved Son, we will want to use those gifts to return our thanks. The Apostle Peter captures the challenge in this powerful summary:
“Each has received a gift, use it to serve one another, as good stewards of God's varied grace…in order that in everything God may be glorified through Jesus Christ. “ (1 Peter 1:10-11)
Putting our talents to work is not easy, however. Our daily habits often dull our senses to seeing clearly the special gifts God so carefully placed within us. And our discipleship can become a set of rituals that closes our eyes to creative new ways to use our talents to best effect. Still, Peter’s challenge remains and we must answer it.
Putting Your Talents to Work is now a weekend workshop available to ecclesias across North America.
The first workshop was organized across four evenings at Great Lakes Christadelphian Bible School this summer. Each day, participants were invited to complete a brief smartphone questionnaire on one aspect of our talents. In the evening, those results were combined with a handful of key Bible principles in an hour-long discussion.
The results were highly encouraging. Each session was attended by about 60 people, ranging from young adults to seasoned citizens. Discussions were lively and participants were engaged and encouraged. Everyone came away with new ways to serve—and with a renewed conviction that we must use our talents with all our heart. Everyone agreed that a shared discussion on this vital challenge was catalytic and helpful.
Why do we serve?
The first session laid the foundation for the week by exploring the core reasons why we want to serve God with the talents He gave us. The discussion centered on four key principles:
We serve to give back for God’s grace.
God’s grace saves—but it also placed special gifts inside you.
God wants us to use them to their fullest—and with fullness of heart.
That service defined Jesus’ life in every possible way.
Participants brought these principles home by discussing what their real motives are for serving God—and thinking about whether they are currently using to full effect all the gifts that God has given them.
What gifts did God give you?
The second session turned the focus to understanding our individual endowment of gifts from our Father. The goal was to help inspire us to rethink what a talent really is, identify your own talents—and encourage us to develop and use them. The discussion was founded on four Biblical principles:
We are expected to develop our God-given talents.
We are to use our talents, not bury them.
We are expected to use our talents to serve others.
God provides us the talents we need to do His work.
With a spirit of honest reflection and humor, participants shared their own assessments of their unique talents—and which talent was most underutilized. Everyone agreed that identifying one’s unique talents is not an easy task—and takes time and experience.
What is God calling YOU to do?
The third session focused on how we put our talents to work through individual service. The goal was to inspire us to think creatively about new ways our unique talents can translate into effective service for our Lord. Three principles framed the discussion:
“Service” is more than we usually think.
We must often overcome the bounds we set to develop our talent.
Utilizing our talent means taking risk.
The Parable of the Talents provided a good touchstone for the discussion. Participants expressed an eagerness to explore new and unfound ways to serve, agreeing that our form of worship often instills boundaries that should not define how we give back.
What is God calling US to do?
The last session focused on ways we can serve collectively and create the wonderful synergies that happen when our efforts are aligned in purpose and spirit. The goal was to identify new opportunities to serve together that are not happening—either because they are not recognized or there are barriers to working together. Three principles guided the discussion:
God views us as members of one body, not individuals. It gives Him pleasure when we work together in unity.
Much more can be accomplished together than individually.
The Scriptures abound in powerful examples of working together.
Participants agreed that collective service is an area to strengthen in our Community. They cited many examples of ecclesial collaboration but said that efforts that span ecclesias are fewer and often seem constrained. Everyone agreed that such service efforts should be a priority, since then create opportunities for more people to serve and they also bear more fruit for our Father.
If your ecclesia is interested in helping your members in putting their talents to work, please contact Seth Wubbels (swubbels@wcfoundation.org) to discuss a weekend workshop.