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God's
Gifts for God's Glory
Part Two - Testimony & Application
By Paul Myhill, November, 2001
I
offer a new parable as testimony. Not divinely inspired text but,
rather, a simple example offered by one of the created who misappropriated
the talents given him:
It is like a man who had three servants that he prepared for work
in his growing business. To one servant, he gave a standard education
and a considerable sum to invest in the company's endeavors. To another,
he provided higher-level schooling, some key contacts and significant
monies to forward the firm's primary objectives. And to the third,
his most able servant, he gave the best private instruction, degrees
from the finest institutions of higher learning, access to the world's
greatest opinion leaders, and funds able to bring fruition to the
organization's most ambitious plans.
The
master then left on a long journey, entrusting the servants with managing
various projects and divisions of his business and expecting that
the preparation, contacts and resources given them would be used to
fuel further growth to his large, multi-national enterprise.
The
first servant went immediately to work and uncovered some promising
investment opportunities that brought an ample profit. As time progressed,
additional prospects became available as his confidence and ability
increased. Eventually, he received a full 100% return on the monies
given him, growing the business proportionately and bringing more
credibility and goodwill to the company name.
The
second servant also started without delay to uncover and appraise
lucrative avenues of involvement to augment the business' profitability.
He used his larger circle of influence and availability of assets
to produce even more market share and yield for the business. He worked
hard and also realized a full return on his investments for the master's
corporation. As a result, the strength and reputation of the business
increased substantially.
Likewise,
the third servant, the one with greatest training, influence and opportunity,
went at once to use the capital entrusted to him. However, he applied
the resources for his own personal gain, not for the purposes of the
master's global business concerns. He did indeed attain a 100% return,
but it served to increase his private wealth and make his own name
greater among the people.
After
quite some time had passed, the master returned and called his servants
together in order to evaluate their performance and assess his business
interests.
The
first servant excitedly stepped forward saying, "Look master,
I took the knowledge and property you gave me and produced a 100%
return for the company. Here is the money you originally gave me and
here is the gain as reflected in the company accounts." The master
replied, "Very well done, my good and faithful servant. You were
in charge of a few of my business affairs, now you will be in charge
of many. Enjoy a new promotion and join your master in the boardroom
to celebrate with me and help grow the company yet further."
The
second servant then animatedly presented his achievements for the
firm. "Look master, I also put all the teaching, contacts and
opportunities to good use. I, too, realized a full return. Here is
the initial capital you entrusted to me and here is the equivalent
gain in company value." Once again, the master issued a joyous
commendation. "Very well done, my good and faithful servant.
You were in charge of a few of my choicer business interests, now
you will be in charge of yet greater ones. You will also receive a
new promotion, have more resources to manage and will be present with
me in the boardroom to help the company with its future management
and expansion plans."
The
last servant ambled forward, stating "Master, I knew you to already
be a rich and demanding businessman with many others increasing your
wealth and corporate empire. I sought to "play it safe"
so that you would have certain resources for an uncertain future.
Here are all the funds you gave me, sound and without depletion."
The master then expressed his deepest disappointment. "You wicked
servant. So you thought I was unfair in my expectations or that others
should step forward and take the risk for you, did you? Did you not
actually take the money I gave you and use it to make a great name
for yourself and increase your own possessions? Your funds will now
be taken from you and given to the others so that they may faithfully
employ them to the furtherance of my interests. You are not welcome
in the boardroom and shall be demoted to a role in the least important
of my subsidiaries, far from here."
A parable of misused talents. Much like its inspired counterpart,
it strikes at the hearts of many. It is implied in Jesus' story, but
is made tangible here to serve as further illustration. It is representative
of my story…
I
had many education privileges…a gift of grace.
I
attended an elite private school in England, a step on the path towards
Cambridge or Oxford. Plans changed. Upon immigrating to America, I
placed out of two years of schooling but was positioned one year ahead
for healthy social interaction. Multiple advanced-placement courses
and pre-enrollment examinations enabled me to test out of almost two
semesters at the University of Texas at Austin. Later, admission was
granted into the Honors Business Program that consisted of the business
school's top thirty students participating in an intensive curriculum
of graduate-level coursework. As a result, the first year of the MBA
program at UT was subsequently waived. I double-majored in both graduate
and undergraduate work, won the prestigious UT MOOT Corp competition,
graduated with honors, and was inducted into numerous honor societies.
I was well equipped and ahead of the game. Pride of scholastic
achievement swelled within me.
I
had an affinity for business development and many opportunities to
exercise it…a gift of grace.
I
started my first business while still in college. Five more ventures
soon followed - some good, some not so good. Most were investments
to be turned around and sold. Additionally, I helped develop companies
for other entrepreneurs and raised a vast amount of capital to fund
them. I saw personal high incomes and plotted the course to earn even
more. Pride of career and material achievement swelled within
me.
I
had an aptitude for ministry involvement and leadership…a gift
of grace.
I
advanced within a certain denomination. I looked good on the outside
as I seemingly obeyed all the rules, written and unwritten. I became
a ministry leader, a teacher, an active participant on multiple committees,
and a founding member of a new church that now numbers in the thousands.
Pride of religious achievement swelled within me.
I
had a penchant for the creative as well as the analytical…a gift
of grace.
My
initial works of art involved worldly subjects of no edification,
but the gift was evident. My earliest Christian-themed paintings were
primarily for my own selfish enjoyment but received the praise and
adoration of others who encountered them. Pride of artistic
achievement swelled within me.
Pride and control…It was all for my glory, my benefit. Everything
I had been graciously given - a life of privilege and prospects, a
life of ability and opportunity - was applied for my goals, not Kingdom
goals. I was analogous to the third servant above who was entrusted
with much, but who used the spiritual endowment for carnal desires.
Education
was something under my control, to provide accolades and brighter
future panoramas. Business acumen was something under my control,
to achieve power, wealth and additional recognition. Religion was
something under my control, to realize community respect and reveal
further financial associations. Artistic ability was something under
my control, to supply personal aesthetic creations and receive the
esteem of others. Pride and control had swelled to great proportions,
attaining their full measure.
A
struggling business and a failed business…gifts of grace put
into proper perspective.
It
took failure to draw me closer to God. Losing it all meant gaining
it all. I subsequently reevaluated my life's purposes, entered seminary
and joined the staff of a large non-denominational church. My privileged
education is now used to serve the Body of Christ. My seasoned business
abilities are now applied to develop strategy and provide administrative
oversight to a precious ministry of world evangelization. My ministerial
leadership aptitude is now coupled with faith and life application.
My creative proficiency is now shared with others for God to receive
His due worship. I use the possessive, "My," in such a description
and statement, but I am humbly cognizant and appreciative that they
are actually God's gifts to me to steward for His credit and growth
of His kingdom.
There
are different types of gifts presented in God's word - motivational
gifts, gifts of office, and relational gifts. Different interpretations,
and cessationist versus non-cessationist arguments concerning certain
gifts, will be left for others' exposition and scholarship, but one
thing is without question: giftings are evident and are received by
all of God's children.
Find
them. Pray to the Presenter of the Gifts. Seek Him to identify what
they are for you and how they manifest in your life. Start with the
gifts you feel most drawn to. Experiment. Practice. Watch for improvement,
development possibilities and escalating application settings. Open
doors and increased opportunities are affirmation that you are faithfully
applying a divine gifting, are consequently "put in charge of
many things," and are somebody "who has, will be given more,
and will have an abundance." Ask trusted friends to observe your
life and offer commentary on perceived areas of gifting. Sometimes
we are blind to what is obvious to others. Take a spiritual gifts
test to better determine, contemplate, or simply understand your unique
stewardship responsibilities.
Be
mindful of the multiple barriers and challenges - temptation for inaction,
pride, selfish ulterior motives, and confidence in our giftedness
alone. Satan is threatened by an empowered, active child of the faith
and will use these measures, as well as other obstacles, to discourage
and dissuade. Cast these impediments aside and step forward in faith,
emboldened and reliant on the same Spirit that first bestowed the
gifts upon you. Take what was given. Develop and utilize it with utmost
confidence…
"For
this reason I remind you to fan into flame the gift of God, which
is in you." (2 Timothy 1:6a)
Part
One - Perspective
Part
Three - The Artistic Gift
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