According to Ability

Matthew 25:14-15 "For it will be like a man going on a journey, who called his servants and entrusted to them his property. To one he gave five talents, to another two, to another one, to each according to his ability. Then he went away.”

So what are you doing with what God has given you? That question always convicts me because I have been given so much and often times I try so little. Notice I said try. It is not about how much we accomplish; it is always about how much we try. I think sometimes we get that backward. We think we are only successful when we are achieving great goals and successes. WRONG! God is the one who brings about the fruit of our efforts; our responsibility is to be faithful.

That, my friend, is the problem. We have this thing all mixed up. We have fallen into the trap of thinking that it is all about us, when in fact it is all about God. That’s why we have such a difficult time being involved in anything of real lasting significance. If God is the one responsible for the success, then it is dependent upon Him. Our responsibility is faithfulness, which keeps us moving forward because of who He is--not based upon who we are.

Great ability does not mean a great difference; what it means is great responsibility. To whom much is given, much is required is true because the responsibility is based upon that which God has entrusted us to do. Faithfulness is what we can offer; success is what God accomplishes in His power.

Our ability determines the talent. I have discovered as I grow older that I have learned to have more ability. I have grown in wisdom (I know some would dispute that), and I have grown in the area of faithfulness learning that if God is at the center of everything then everything revolves around God. Even this growth was not something I accomplished by myself. It was only through God stretching me in faithfulness that I began to realize how faithful God is to me. My talent then becomes the ability not to accomplish more, but the ability to believe more.

I confessed at the beginning of this message that I get convicted. This is why: my ability does not measure up to faithfulness; it is often seen in thinking I can make it on my own. Lord, forgive me when I come to this futile thinking; set me free to be faithful according to my abilities.

Blessings, Rip