Of Talents, Gift, and Skill: Honor happens to them All (February 18th Lesson 6- part 1)

Winter 2023 Table Talk

Not a coincidence, no, not at all, that in the very chapter where Jesus spoke of the management of treasure and talent, He concluded with a story about honor. What you value determines what is revealed to you. What is revealed highlight your level of understanding. What you understand is what you can easily believe. And what you believe is what you can invest into. The venture you invest into is a function of the yield and you can only market what you have developed to its final stage in production. What you produce is what you market. Where am I going with this?

A gift or talent you don’t identify becomes a mirage to you.

A gift or talents you don’t honor doesn’t profit you or no one.

A gift or talent you don’t value doesn’t gets others attention.

A gift or talent you don’t develop remains stagnant and becomes outdated.

A gift or talent you don’t perfect remains small and serve the common

A gift or talent you are not confident about doesn’t attract others.

A gift or talent you don’t market remains unknown.

A gift or talent you don’t invest in doesn’t yield a reward (Not all things are gifts, some things are rewards)

A gift or talent you don’t respect doesn’t attract the regard of others.

A gift or talent you are not committed to does not attract the investment of others.

A gift or talent you don’t present to the world does not serve anyone.

A gift or talent you don’t protect brings more trouble than service.

A gift or talent meant for everyone (audience) is cheap.

By all means appreciate other's talents! by all mean develop others skill and by all means, I mean, by every power in you identify, develop, practice, protect, enhance, and market your gifts. In quietness and with discipline, finetune your talent. That is your bargaining power on the table of purpose. That is what you bring to the table. Everyone has got something. No one has everything. Value your talent, appreciate your gift, invest in your skills. In your secret place, confidently practice and develop your gift. So that when your opportunity comes, you are not disappointed.

No one has everything. Everyone got something! What you have is not only yours.

It is honor to know where to serve your gift and to know when to withdraw your gift or service. In Mathew 13: 1-7, the parable of the Sower told of a farmer, who carrying his own seed with him, went about spreading the seed on different type of soil. Like the farmer, every human has got at least a talent and to every person of faith a gift to serve the body Christ. While the seed planted on the different soil is the same and has the potential to bear fruits, the soil determines the seed's productivity.

Your gift is for planting. Your gift is for service. Your gift makes a room for you. Your gift is part of the package that comes with your purpose and calling. So is talent!

How do you identify your gifts or talent or skills?

Let me start with the definitions of those three words. Although used interchangeably, they are different and received in a different way, and serve different platforms.

Your talent may be naturally transferred to you from your parent. Your talent makes you a part of the big picture and mission of your family, through which you build a legacy that is trans-generational. A talent is the inherited and self-developed ability to do something well. A talent is based on your genetic and talents come naturally to you.

Your gift determines your influence and impact. You can't afford to allow your timidity or insecurities keep you from serving with your gift courageously. For every gift is a God-given and Holy Spirit- inspired capability for the purpose of carrying out your function in the body of Christ which is the church. A Skill, unlike the other two comes by training. However, the best skills are not learned, they are developed.

Not all gifts are marketable. Some gifts are specifically released for the profiting of the body of Christ and for specific assignment. When it comes to profiting from your gift, discernment is key.

For Aholiab and Bezalel (see Exodus 31), the artistic gift was released specifically to enhance the design of the temple. For Joseph in Genesis 37-42, it was different. His gift was not only for the preservation of the Jew but also for his profiting. Joseph rose to become an official in Egypt after sharing his gift freely, with his family, with fellow prisoners, and with the king of Egypt- Pharaoh. Okay, let’s circle back to Mathew 13:1-7.

Where are you planting?

The parable of the Sower - although this parable is related directly to the word of God and how it interacts with different hearts moreover, there are lessons we can draw from this story. This parable helps us identify a good soil and help you determine whether you are currently planting on the right soil. For at the end, you will account for how you traded with the investment of God in you. The seed is the same and capable of productivity. The seed is the word. You are the seed. Myles Munroe said, God didnt want you to miss your purpose so he planted it in you. People are the soil. Your mindset is the horticultural garden, and the soil makes the difference.

Here are somethings to note about the farmer:

• The farmer carries- everyone bears something in his/her hands to serve humanity. As much as you value others’ gifts and talents, value your own. Don’t be caught planting only others’ seed while leaving yours unattended.

• ´The farmer carries his seed- the first soil the farmer planted was in his own mind. In valuing your talents and gifts, your mindset is very important. As a man thinks, so he is. If you think you are useful, you are right.

• ´The farmer carries his seed and went- you show you value your gift/talent by being intentional about where and how you plant it. Being quiet about your gift is not humility.

• ´The farmer carries his seed and went out – It takes confidence and courage to share your gift with the world. Your gift and talent are not meant for you to keep inside. Your gift is the expression of your purpose. Don’t allow people’s perception of your gift keep you small.

• ´The farmer carries his seed and went out to sow- you show you value your gift/talent by being intentional about where and when you plant it. Every gift or talent requires action and investment.

• ´The farmer scattered- finding the best soil to plant your gift requires patience, discernment, guidance, mentorship and might take some time. Sometimes, it feels like you are scattering. You never know the productivity of the good soil until you compare with the bad soil. Sometimes, scattering is key to identifying the best soil.

And the farmer scatters the seed everywhere and some fell on the path…

A gift planted on the path soil is a talent or gift serving on the wrong space or platform or to the wrong audience. Everyone traffics the path, but no one pitch their tent. Everyone prices the good, but no purchase. A gift on the path is misplaced, unfruitful, unneeded, and dishonored. The ‘path’ is not necessarily a platform but the love for popularity, people’s attention and likeness, trending, and internet sensation make one plant her/his gift on this soil. The seed planted on the 'path' are built on people’s feeling and quickly wane when those feelings change. The impact of this investment of talent is short-lived. Many purposeful journeys start out at this level- Joseph telling other about his dream was to gauge their opinion and validation. If your gift is for everyone, then you have found yourself an ice cream shop!

And the farmer scatters the seed everywhere and some fell on the rocky soil.....

And you with all your gifts and skills and talent spread it everywhere. A rocky soil lacks connection. The structure is hard to maneuver to bring the best out of your gift. A seed on the rock is efforts that continue to produce frustration. When you think you have figured it out, you lose the fruits. There is an assurance of seed or talents or gift but the soil lacks foundation, moisture, and connection. Planting on the rocky soil comes with no appreciation and incessant pushback. A rocky soil is an atmosphere where your gift feels dry, boring, and stagnant, with no innovation and advancement.

And the farmer scatters the seed everywhere and some fell among the thorns....

The thorns are already on the soil, but you decided to plant on this ground because you feel your seed is powerful, enough to thrive and throve over the thorns. There are battles that are not worth your time, there are fights that are not worth your energy. There are soils that are undeserving of your gifts and talents. A gift or talents planted among thorns is a bit tricky. You seem to have some platform and audience, you seem to garner some likes and interests, you seem to bear some fruits, you seem productive, but investing your gifts/talent in this environment limits your potential. There is no wholeness or fullness among thorns because of unneeded and unhealthy competition. When you are among thorns, the pain of dishonor is deep, and you don’t thrive in this environment because the level of disrespect is monumental. Self-development in this environment is hard, as you try to develop your skills, the thorns poke you and sometimes stop you. For the thorns, there is nothing you can do. Sometimes relocation is helpful. Jesus said allow the thorns and the crops to grow together and they shall be separated at the end. Stop planting where you are being tolerated. It is time to stop planting on the soil where your ideas are continually crushed. Be careful where you plant.

Let me be bold to say it takes scattering everywhere to identify your gifts. It may take planting among the path, to the thorns, and to the rocky environment before you finally land in your palace. Joseph the dreamer has been chosen to go ahead of the Israelite to Egypt for preservation during the great global famine that would hit. Joseph didn’t see that coming neither was his father. He was just a young guy who sleeps a whole lot (I mean, the guy was just dreaming). From Joseph, we see some features that could be used to identify your talents and gift.

Now get a sheet and answer the following questions. Feel free to share your results:

What are the activities that get you into most trouble with others?

What activities do people complement about you?

What activities do people questions about you?

What are the activities that give you a sense of ease and value?

What are those activities you can do freely?

What gifts and talents have family and close relations pointed out in you?

What are the talent that attracts you in others?

What are the constant thoughts that you pen down?

What are the gift and talent that resonates with you, and you can easily develop on?

What are your important contributions to others?

Joseph didn’t allow his family to shut him up. He didn’t allow his condition and situations to stop him. He was confident about his gift. He courageously interpreted the dream of two officials in the prison. He was bold enough to tell them to speak for him before pharaoh the king. Until you serve king, keep developing your gift, keep practicing your gift, keep upgrading your gift. Keep marketing your gift. You honor your individual by knowing where to serve with your gift. Your gift is not for everyone unless it is an ice-cream. Prepare while you wait for your opportunity. An unused gift remains undeveloped.

On the good soil, the fruit is plenty, the farmer is productive, the harvest is great, and the soil remains good. Specifically:

• Self awareness is easier on a good soil

• Desire for self-development is higher on a good soil

• Promotion is quicker.

• Advancement is smoother.

• Ideas flow freely.

• There is more collaboration than competition.

• Service is enjoyable on a good soil.

• Productivity is higher.

• Burnt-out is zero or minimal.

• Your individual is acknowledged, valuable, and recognized on a good soil.

What is your gift? Where are you planting? When do you plant? How do you plant? Watch out for part two as we learn from the parables of the three servants and talents.

Click for Meeting Slides to read more.

The Currency of Honor_Lesson6.pptx

Download PPTX • 137KB

This material is created freely for small and large group study.