Exhortation Station

Let’s talk about gifts. Yahweh has given each one of us unique skills, abilities, talents, spiritual gifts, opportunities, etc.  What does Yahweh want us to do with the things He’s given to us?  In this post, I’d like to examine a few scriptures on this subject.  Note that I will simply use “gift” to refer generally to the things mentioned above since, ultimately, Yahweh is the giver of all good things (James 1:17).  Let’s jump right in with Matthew 25.

Matthew 25:13-29 — “Be on the alert then, for you do not know the day nor the hour. ¹⁴ For it is just like a man about to go on a journey, who called his own slaves and entrusted his possessions to them. ¹⁵ To one he gave five talents, to another, two, and to another, one, each according to his own ability; and he went on his journey. ¹⁶ Immediately the one who had received the five talents went and traded with them, and gained five more talents. ¹⁷ In the same manner the one who had received the two talents gained two more. ¹⁸ But he who received the one talent went away, and dug a hole in the ground and hid his master’s money. ¶ ¹⁹ “Now after a long time the master of those slaves came and settled accounts with them. ²⁰ The one who had received the five talents came up and brought five more talents, saying, ‘Master, you entrusted five talents to me. See, I have gained five more talents.’ ²¹ His master said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful slave. You were faithful with a few things, I will put you in charge of many things; enter into the joy of your master.’ ¶ ²² “Also the one who had received the two talents came up and said, ‘Master, you entrusted two talents to me. See, I have gained two more talents.’ ²³ His master said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful slave. You were faithful with a few things, I will put you in charge of many things; enter into the joy of your master.  ¶ ²⁴ “And the one also who had received the one talent came up and said, ‘Master, I knew you to be a hard man, reaping where you did not sow and gathering where you scattered no seed. ²⁵ And I was afraid, and went away and hid your talent in the ground. See, you have what is yours.’ ¶ ²⁶ “But his master answered and said to him, ‘You wicked, lazy slave, you knew that I reap where I did not sow and gather where I scattered no seed. ²⁷ Then you ought to have put my money in the bank, and on my arrival I would have received my money back with interest. ²⁸ Therefore take away the talent from him, and give it to the one who has the ten talents.’ ¶ ²⁹ “For to everyone who has, more shall be given, and he will have an abundance; but from the one who does not have, even what he does have shall be taken away.'”

This parable is in the context of being ready for Yahshua’s second coming, and I believe it illustrates some very important principles regarding the use our gifts.  I want us to pay attention to a couple things.  First, notice that Yahweh (the Master) wants us to multiply the things He has entrusted to us.  Yah doesn’t want us to put our gifts in a box, taking them out every now and then to admire them.  He wants us to grow them. This point is worth expounding on…

Sometimes, Yahweh will pour out a gift on someone in such a way that the fruit is immediately evident, as when Yahweh filled Bezalel and Oholiab with knowledge of craftsmanship to make the components of the tabernacle and the ark (Exodus 31:1-11).  More often, however, I believe the gifts Yahweh gives us are like seeds that require cultivation, diligence, and patience to be grown into maturity.  Listen to Paul’s admonitions to Timothy in these passages:

1 Timothy 4:14-16 — “Do not neglect the spiritual gift within you, which was bestowed on you through prophetic utterance with the laying on of hands by the presbytery. ¹⁵ Take pains with these things; be absorbed in them, so that your progress will be evident to all. ¹⁶ Pay close attention to yourself and to your teaching; persevere in these things, for as you do this you will ensure salvation both for yourself and for those who hear you.”

2 Timothy 1:6,7 — “…I remind you to kindle afresh the gift of Elohim which is in you through the laying on of my hands. ⁷ For Elohim has not given us a spirit of timidity, but of power and love and discipline.”

Although it’s unclear to me what gift Paul was referring to in these passages (if anyone has any insights on the subject, please comment below), it’s clear that Paul is exhorting Timothy to be diligent in exercising and “kindling afresh” his gift.  Just as we need to be good soil for the seed of the Gospel (see Matthew 13), let us also be good soil for the “seeds” of the gifts Yah has planted in us.

The second thing that stands out to me about Matthew 25 is that it didn’t matter how much each one was entrusted with — only what each one did with what was entrusted to him.  We see that, just as the Master praised the one with 5 talents, He also praised the one with 2 talents because he was diligent with what the Master had given him.  The Master was displeased with the slave that had the one talent not because of what the slave had been given, but because of what the slave failed to do with what he had. 

It’s important that we not compare our gifts the those of others and think ourselves lesser or greater than others because of our differing gifts.  This leads into a third point: Use your gifts to serve Yahweh’s kingdom in a unique way — perhaps in a way only you can.  1 Peter 4:10 says, “As each one has received a special gift, employ it in serving one another as good stewards of the manifold grace of Elohim.”  Listen to the following passages.  Although they speak specifically of spiritual gifts, I believe these principles are applicable to gifts in general.  Some of these passages are a little long, but hang on — it’s worth it. 🙂

Romans 12:4-8 — “For just as we have many members in one body and all the members do not have the same function, ⁵ so we, who are many, are one body in Messiah, and individually members one of another. ⁶ Since we have gifts that differ according to the grace given to us, each of us is to exercise them accordingly: if prophecy, according to the proportion of his faith; ⁷ if service, in his serving; or he who teaches, in his teaching; ⁸ or he who exhorts, in his exhortation; he who gives, with liberality; he who leads, with diligence; he who shows mercy, with cheerfulness.”

1 Corinthians 12:14-31 — “For the body is not one member, but many. ¹⁵ If the foot says, “Because I am not a hand, I am not a part of the body,” it is not for this reason any the less a part of the body. ¹⁶ And if the ear says, “Because I am not an eye, I am not a part of the body,” it is not for this reason any the less a part of the body. ¹⁷ If the whole body were an eye, where would the hearing be? If the whole were hearing, where would the sense of smell be? ¹⁸ But now Elohim has placed the members, each one of them, in the body, just as He desired. ¹⁹ If they were all one member, where would the body be? ²⁰ But now there are many members, but one body. ²¹ And the eye cannot say to the hand, “I have no need of you”; or again the head to the feet, “I have no need of you.” ²² On the contrary, it is much truer that the members of the body which seem to be weaker are necessary; ²³ and those members of the body which we deem less honorable, on these we bestow more abundant honor, and our less presentable members become much more presentable, ²⁴ whereas our more presentable members have no need of it. But Elohim has so composed the body, giving more abundant honor to that member which lacked, ²⁵ so that there may be no division in the body, but that the members may have the same care for one another. ²⁶ And if one member suffers, all the members suffer with it; if one member is honored, all the members rejoice with it. ¶ ²⁷ Now you are Messiah’s body, and individually members of it. ²⁸ And Elohim has appointed in the church, first apostles, second prophets, third teachers, then miracles, then gifts of healings, helps, administrations, various kinds of tongues. ²⁹ All are not apostles, are they? All are not prophets, are they? All are not teachers, are they? All are not workers of miracles, are they? ³⁰ All do not have gifts of healings, do they? All do not speak with tongues, do they? All do not interpret, do they? ³¹ But earnestly desire the greater gifts. ¶ And I show you a still more excellent way.”

From both of these passages it is clear that each member of the body of Messiah has a unique purpose — without each member, the body would not function properly.  Do you notice anything else about the passage in Corinthians?  Notice how the chapter ends with “and I show you a still more excellent way.”  What is this “excellent way” Paul is referring to?  Let’s start into the next chapter…

1 Cor 13:1-3 — “If I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, but do not have love, I have become a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal. ² If I have the gift of prophecy, and know all mysteries and all knowledge; and if I have all faith, so as to remove mountains, but do not have love, I am nothing. ³ And if I give all my possessions to feed the poor, and if I surrender my body to be burned, but do not have love, it profits me nothing.”

This leads into my fourth point about gifts: our gifts are useless if they are not used in love.  1 Corinthians is not the only book that ties in the discussion of gifts closely with the topic of love.  The passage in Romans is also directly succeeded by the topic of love, and the verse in 1 Peter is directly preceded by the same topic.  Rom 12:9,10 — ^“Let love be without hypocrisy. Abhor what is evil; cling to what is good. ¹⁰ Be devoted to one another in brotherly love; give preference to one another in honor.”  1 Peter 4:8 — “Above all, keep fervent in your love for one another, because love covers a multitude of sins.”

Let’s summarize the points we’ve covered and then look at a couple more.

1) Gifts are like seeds — they require diligent cultivation to grow into maturity so that they can produce abundant fruit.

2) It’s not what you’re entrusted with that matters — that’s Yah’s department.  What matters is what you do with it.

3) Use your gifts to serve in a unique way — perhaps in a way only you can.

4) Our gifts are useless if they are not used in love for one another.

Okay, here are a couple more…

5) Use your gifts to direct attention to the Father rather than to acquire attention for yourself.

Proverbs 22:29 says, “Do you see a man skilled in his work? He will stand before kings; He will not stand before obscure men.”  Many times, I believe Yah will use our gifts to give us a platform to be a light for His kingdom.  With that platform, we have two options: 1) we can use it to gain attention, or 2) we can use it to direct attention to the Father.  If you’re good at singing, for example, and Yah gives you an opportunity to exercise it, give it all you’ve got!  Just be careful to divert praise to the One who gave you the gift in the first place.

6) Use your gifts to delight yourself in Yahweh.

Psalm 37:4 says, “Delight yourself in the Lord, And He will give you the desires of your heart.”  Yahweh gives us gifts because He loves us.  He wants us to delight in him!  Do you like drawing?  Carpentry?  Music?  Running?  Enjoy using your gifts, thanking Yah for what He has given you.

To conclude, consider praying this prayer: “Father, show me the seeds that are in me, and show me how to grow them to full maturity so that they can produce fruit for Your kingdom.  Help me to use them in humility and to be a good steward of the opportunities You give me to exercise them.  Help me to use my gifts in love and to delight in You more through my gifts.  Amen.”

James 1:17 — “Every good thing given and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shifting shadow.”

(All Bible passages NASB; Hebrew transl. added.)