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I used to swim years back. I learnt breaststroke and freestyle, and was learning butterfly! I was so comfortable with my swimming skills that I virtually adopted the deep end of the swimming pool as my playground. But something happened one day: I was making some dolphin-like maneuvers at the deep end, and began to feel dizzy in the water. The life guard came to my rescue; otherwise, I would probably have drowned! After I regained my composure, I went back into the water, and completed my swimming for the day to the amazement of all around, but never stepped at the swimming pool since!

Now, I want to swim again, but it has been at least ten years since I last swam! I feel as unskilled as someone who has never swum before! I have not been stirring up my swimming skills and two things have happened:

• I did not progress in learning new skills (like the butterfly I was learning before I stopped)

• In addition, I have also lost the skills I originally acquired.

I have not been stirring my swimming gift, and not only have I missed out on increasing my skills; but I have also lost what I had!  There is a popular saying that, “practice makes perfect,” which is quite true.

Stirring up our gifts is like stirring a pot of soup on fire: it helps it cook and develop nicely, and uniformly leading to great savor! When we don’t, it cooks unevenly with scorched parts, leading to bad taste.

 Jesus used a parable to illustrate God’s expectation of us when it comes to stirring up our gifts.

READ Matthew 25:14-28

 Again, the Kingdom of Heaven can be illustrated by the story of a man going on a long trip. He called together his servants and entrusted his money to them while he was gone. He gave five bags of silver to one, two bags of silver to another, and one bag of silver to the last—dividing it in proportion to their abilities. He then left on his trip.

 The servant who received the five bags of silver began to invest the money and earned five more.  The servant with two bags of silver also went to work and earned two more.  But the servant who received the one bag of silver dug a hole in the ground and hid the master’s money.

 After a long time their master returned from his trip and called them to give an account of how they had used his money. The servant to whom he had entrusted the five bags of silver came forward with five more and said,

‘Master, you gave me five bags of silver to invest, and I have earned five more.’

The master was full of praise.

‘Well done, my good and faithful servant. You have been faithful in handling this small amount, so now I will give you many more responsibilities. Let’s celebrate together!’

 The servant who had received the two bags of silver came forward and said,

‘Master, you gave me two bags of silver to invest, and I have earned two more.’

The master said,

‘Well done, my good and faithful servant. You have been faithful in handling this small amount, so now I will give you many more responsibilities. Let’s celebrate together!’

“Then the servant with the one bag of silver came and said,

‘Master, I knew you were a harsh man, harvesting crops you didn’t plant and gathering crops you didn’t cultivate.  I was afraid I would lose your money, so I hid it in the earth. Look, here is your money back.’

But the master replied,

‘You wicked and lazy servant! If you knew I harvested crops I didn’t plant and gathered crops I didn’t cultivate, why didn’t you deposit my money in the bank? At least I could have gotten some interest on it.’

Then he ordered,

‘Take the money from this servant, and give it to the one with the ten bags of silver.  To those who use well what they are given, even more will be given, and they will have an abundance. But from those who do nothing, even what little they have will be taken away. Now throw this useless servant into outer darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.’

(Matthew 25:14-28 NLT)

This is a very popular story, called the “Parable of the talents”. The New Living Translation gives it an interesting title: “Parable of the three servants.”

This is interesting because it emphasizes our roles: as “servants”; instead of being “custodians,” as projected by the other, more popular, title.

So, three servants were given different amounts of money by their master; according to their abilities. The master then went on a long trip. When he returned from the trip, he summoned the servants to render accounts. Two servants put the funds entrusted to use, and gained more; but one did not! The master was livid with the last servant, and used very strong words on him. Then he ordered that what he failed to use should be taken from him, and given to one who made profit. Then the master made a profound statement saying:

“To those who use well what they are given, even more will be given, and they will have an abundance. But from those who do nothing, even what little they have will be taken away.” (vv. 29)

This resonates with what Jesus said in John 15:2 when He talked about He being “The True Vine”. He said,

“He (The Father) cuts off every branch of mine that doesn’t produce fruit, and he prunes the branches that do bear fruit so they will produce even more.” (John 15:2 NLT) 

God expects us to stir up and use the gifts He has given us. When we fail to do that, He takes them away from us, mostly with tragic consequences!

Life is the greatest gift God has given us. How are we using that gift? Do you know that gift can be taken away? What about the other gifts and skills God has given us? Do you know they can also be taken away? In the devotional entitled “Stir Up Your Gifts,” posted 2 days ago, I linked early death, especially among retirees, to lack of activity and productivity; or not exercising God-given gifts! And I said,

“Do you look forward to resting after retirement? If “yes”, then you are not exercising your gift; because your gift never retires! Your gift stays with you till death.”

It is very important we stir up our gifts and keep using them.

MEMORY VERSE

“The Father cuts off every branch of mine that doesn’t produce fruit, and he prunes the branches that do bear fruit so they will produce even more.” 
(John 15:2)   

QUESTIONS

• What gifts have you been given by God, and how are you using them?
• Life is the greatest gift from God, so how are you using it too?
• Do you know that God gives you long life for exercising your gift?

PRAYER TIP

Father, please help us to exercise 
our gifts, the greatest being life.

URGENT CALL

By nature, we are all sinful, and alienated from God. We ultimately face the wrath of God!

But God in His mercy and love gives us a chance to reverse this trend, join His family, be part of His household, and become His children.

The first step to becoming a member of God’s household is for us to be saved. 

Salvation comes through accepting Jesus Christ as our Lord and Personal Savior.

It is a very personal decision. No one can make that decision for you.

If you make that decision today, there will be great singing and rejoicing in heaven; because one new member has joined the family and household of God!

Do you want to make that decision today?

Please visit “The Believer’s Prayer” 
for guidance if you want 
to make that decision.

We will be happy to hear from you through the contact information on that page.

God richly bless you.

SPECIAL GRATITUDE

Thank you for visiting the Testimony Devotional Website. 

We would not have gotten here without your prayers, goodwill and overall support. We are grateful, and humbled.

We thank God for counting us worthy to share in His Great Commission; and we thank you for sticking with us through this journey.

God richly bless you.

The Testimony Devotional website addresses are:

https://testimonydevotional.org/

https://testimonydevotional.com/

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