Remember the Parable of the Talents? It’s the one where the man, before going on a journey gives talents to three of his servants to take care of. They all get different amounts to take care of – one servant gets five talents, one gets two, and one servant gets one talent. The first two use the talents they are given to create more talents. They invest what their boss gave them in order to create a profit. The third servant is afraid of risk so he just buries his in the ground until the boss comes back.

At the end of the story, the boss returns. He praises the first two for their work and how they used what they were given to create benefits for the man. However, he gets angry with the third for wasting the opportunity to use his talent to do something positive.

This is one of those parables that is not very veiled for us readers. We are all given spiritual gifts of talents. It may not be something that is visible or something that generates great wealth or that effects great numbers of people. But whatever our talent is, we are called by God to use it for the benefit of Him, our boss. In whatever way we are blessed by God, we are privileged to receive it. We also then have a responsibility to use it – not just for our benefit but for the benefit of the church and the kingdom.

So I ask you today – How are you using your talents? Do you need help figuring out where you might help or serve? Are you nervous about the risk of getting involved in a ministry? Please let me know if there is anything I can do to help you get plugged in here at Parker UMC or in one of our outreach ministries. I would be happy to help. God has blessed us all – let’s put it to good use.

Pat can be reached via email at [email protected] or by calling the church office at 303-841-3979.