OFFERING YOUR TALENT FOR HIS GLORY

“Once we understand the “vertical” relationship of our talents and recognize that we should strive for God’s approval  rather than man’s, then we must learn to see our talents as an offering to God instead of an offering to man. The Bible commands this repeatedly: “Offer yourselves to God” (Romans 6:13).Our talents are best employed when they are dedicated completely to God – when we realize that  they come from Him freely and when we offer them back to Him freely, whether anyone is around to notice or not…

Picture yourself offering your talent completely to God without any person nearby. Now compare this with a portrait of a Jewish high priest offering a lamb or a bull. Both offerings came from God and are now freely given back to God. The offerings are made to the Lord and not to man (although man may partially benefit from them). In both cases, no comparisons are to be made as to the amount one person may have to offer over another: God accepted equally the massive offerings of King Solomon and the small offerings of the poor. God is pleased to receive both offerings, if they are made with pure hearts.

If we are to use our talents to glorify the Lord, then we must “un-learn” certain worldly values. We must see that the chief reason God gave us talents is not to bring us money, fame or recognition. Talents were given primarily so that we might have a glorious means of praising Him, as we offer our gifts back to their source…

An outstanding example before us is Johann Sebastian Bach (1685-1750), universally considered to be one of the greatest composers ever to have lived. This Christian musician cared nothing for the praise of men. He worked most of His life in small churches, writing his masterpieces for rather obscure audiences. Of the hundreds of compositions he produced, only ten were published in his lifetime. It was seven decades after his death that Bach’s genius was finally discovered and appreciated. Yet it did not matter to him; he was composing for the Lord. He ended many manuscripts with the bold letters S.D.G., Latin for Soli Deo Gloria meaning “To God Alone Be the Glory.”