Hidden from Sight

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A talent is only useful when used to glorify God.

Unless you subscribe to The Atlanta Journal Constitution, you probably missed the story that was in the May 17, 1987 edition. A rock hound named Rob Cutshaw owns a little roadside shop outside Andrews, North Carolina. Like many in the trade, he hunts for rocks, and then sells them to collectors or jewelry makers. He is no expert but he knows enough about rocks to decide which to pick up and sell, and which to leave behind. He leaves the appraising of his rocks to other people. As much as he enjoys the work, it doesn't always pay the bills.

While on a dig twenty years ago, Rob found a rock he described as “purdy and big.” He tried unsuccessfully to sell the specimen, and according to the Constitution, kept the rock under his bed or in his closet. He guessed the blue chunk could bring as much as $500 dollars, but he would have taken less if something urgent came up. That's how close Rob came to hawking for a few hundred dollars what turned out to be the largest, most valuable sapphire ever found. The blue rock that Rob had abandoned to the darkness of a closet two decades ago—now known as “The Star of David” sapphire—weighs nearly a pound, and could easily sell for $2.75 million. 

While Rob could have traded in the rock and used the money he got back, he decided to keep it hidden. In much the same way, God has given each of us a valuable “rock” or talent. His desire is that we use our talent to honor and glorify Him, but many times, we can bury our talent and keep it hidden.

Christ illustrates this principle in the parable we see in our verses today. A wealthy businessman had given his servants money to invest while he was gone. The first two servants wisely invested the money and had a profit to give back to the businessman when he returned. But the third servant buried his talent and had no profit to present the businessman. He had failed to utilize the gift given him.

As Christians, God has given each of us a talent. It won’t be the same as everyone else’s talent, as is evidenced by the differing amounts of money given the servants in the parable. But God expects us to use our talent to its fullest so as to glorify Him.

What is your talent? Perhaps it’s teaching, singing, playing an instrument, organizing events, greeting others, handling finances, or other areas of expertise you may have. God has given you a talent that He desires for you to use for Him. If you do not know your talent, ask God to reveal it to you. Use your talent to its fullest so that God will be honored and glorified through your life.


Source: Dailyintheword.org, February 19, 2009

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