TALENTED HANDS (1)

“A MAN’S GIFT MAKES ROOM for him, and brings him before GREAT MEN” – Proverbs 18:16

GOD brings before TALENTED HANDS, opportunities for phenomenal Impact: “A MAN’S GIFT MAKES ROOM for him, and brings him before GREAT MEN” (Pro.18:16). The New Revised Standard Version says: “A gift opens doors; it gives access to the great”! Opportunities are divinely-designed Open Doors. We’ve seen how God prepares and positions Hands for Positive Impact – temporal and eternal – through Anointed and Blessed Hands. Talented Hands constitute another veritable means of making the desired or divinely-ordained Impact in life. Purpose is the reason for being; what God made each person for; why we were sent to planet earth. Vision is the unveiling or revelation of Purpose. God has definite purposes for everyone on earth, which are brought to light through the Mercy, Grace, and Favour of Redemption.

God has put gifts or talents in every person to enhance the fulfilment of our purposes and visions. The world makes room for the Person of Purpose and Vision, by means of his or her Talents. Our talents make ways for us in life. It is in exercising our gifts and talents that we will find real fulfilment, purpose, and contentment in our career, calling, occupation, vocation, profession, or the works of our hands. It’s interesting that the Bible does not say that a man’s education makes room for him, but that his gift or talent does. Education is beneficial, but it is definitely not the key to success in life. If education were the key, then those who have earned a doctorate should be the most contented, fulfilled, secure, and happy. An educated and intelligent person who is not exercising his talent will probably end up poor and unfulfilled.

Contrary to society’s conventional belief, although education is foundational, in itself, it doesn't guarantee anything unique in life, if it is not built upon. If one is educated but has not developed his talent, he is likely going to be drained, depressed, and frustrated. The world will not move over for us just because we're educated, certified, or smart. Our gifts and talents are the keys to our success! Education becomes better when it is undergirded and complemented with Talent. Of course, the possession of talents does not preclude Diligence. Preceding verse 16 is verse 9: “He who is slothful in his work is a brother to him who is a great destroyer.” Indeed, the discovery and deployment of talent enhances diligence. On the other hand, without talents, diligence wanes; and one will hate going to work on Monday mornings.

Many Believers in Christ do not realize how loaded the talents they possess or the gifts they are sitting on are. God’s Talents in our lives will bring us “before great men” (v.16b). The context of this scripture does not support the alternative interpretation that the “gift” here refers to offering a bribe for an underhand or fraudulent purpose. Rather, it portrays the sense of a spiritual gift paving one’s way to the presence of great persons. When we groom and exercise our gift, not only will the world make room for us, but it will also pay us for it. Anyone who discovers, develops, deploys, and maximizes his or her talent appropriately, will become a commodity, and maybe, ultimately, a celebrity!

The Wisdom of Talents is to pursue a career or calling that aligns with what we were born to do, rather than what society assumes to be most lucrative at a particular point in time. A wise, talented hand will be most productive and prosperous in the pathway of purpose, enhanced by talents. No matter how big the world is, there's a place in it for the one who discovers and manifests his or her talent. Those who do things in shoddy or halfway manner will make do with just any job. One who does just enough to get by, may remain simply an employee or unemployed. However, the person who decides to invest his life and engage his hands on discovered talents, will fulfil vision, and be ushered into the Arena of Greatness, to make unforgettable Impact!