Jesus used the Parable of the Talents to illustrate the essence of deploying our God-given talents and gifts for the Church and good of mankind. Through the parable, Jesus delegated to us, all the responsibility as stewards, to care for His Kingdom. What will we do with the blessings we’ve been given? Will we help the needy? Clothe the naked? Feed the hungry? Show mercy? Love one another? Or will we squander our money and blessings? Hide or misuse our talents? Judgement day will eventually arrive when we will give account of His blessings, talents and gifts accorded to us on a platter of gold. BETTY AMUKPO charges some children to itemise the consequences of not using God’s given talents. Excerpts:
‘The person may return undeveloped and unfulfilled’
Talents are inherited according to Exodus 35:10, while gifts are received as stated in James 1:17. God gave us talents and gifts in order to benefit others and build up Christ’s body, especially to minister to others. Consequences of not using our talents and gifts include: • The person may remain undeveloped and unfulfilled. • The skill in the individual may die with the owner of such skills when it is not identified or nurtured. • When our talents and gifts are not developed, not much progress will come to that person or the society; for the Bible says “Take therefore the talent from him and give it unto him which had ten talents” (Matthew 25 :28).
• Faith Ndukauba
‘If we do not serve our stewardship, it will be taken from us’
If we do not serve our stewardship it will eventually be taken from us (Matthew 25:14- 30). If we don’t use the talents God gives to us, other people get cheated. The way you bring glory to God is by using your talents. Use your gifts well to serve one another. God is glorified when you use your abilities to serve others.
• Stephen Victory
‘We risk becoming stagnant and limited in our growth’
The consequences of not using our talents are numerous. They are:
Stagnation: If we do not use our talents and gifts, we risk becoming stagnant and limit our growth and potentials. This is illustrated in the parable of the talents in Matthew 25:14- 30, where the servant who buried his talent and did not invest it was rebuked by his master. Ineffective Witness: Our talents and gifts are given to us for the purpose of building up the Church and spreading the gospel (Ephesians 4:12-13). If we fail to use them, we risk being ineffective witnesses for Christ and hindering the work of the Kingdom.
Guilt and Regret: Not using our talents and gifts can lead to feelings of guilt and regret. In the Parable of the Talents, the servant who buried his talent was not only reprimanded by his master but also felt ashamed and regretful (Matthew 25:26-30). Loss of Rewards: Finally, failing to use our talents and gifts may result in loss of rewards in heaven. Jesus warns us that the servant who buried his talent will have it taken away and given to the one who used his talents effectively (Matthew 25:28-29). In conclusion, as Christians, we are called to use our talents and gifts to serve God, build up the Church, and spread the gospel. Failing to use our talents and gifts will result in missed opportunities, ineffective witness, guilt and regret, and loss of rewards.
• Arnold Akalezi
‘Not using one’s talent is like living a meaningless life’
Not using one’s talents or gifts is like living an unfulfilled meaningless life. In 1 Peter 4:10. As each has received a gift, they should use it to serve one another, as good stewards of God’s varied grace: 1 Timothy 4:14. Do not neglect the gift you have”. As children of God, God has deposited in each and every one of us awesome talents and gifts to help us live a fulfilling and rewarding life all to His glory. So in essence we are supposed to bear fruits with His gifts to us. Some consequences of not using our gifts and talents are:
• Not living a fulfilled life.
• Living an empty life.
• God in us will not be honoured.
• A lot of people we are supposed to help with our gifts will be left hanging. “Take therefore the talent from him, and give it unto him which hath ten talents,” states Matthew 25:28 (KJV).
• Victoria Okefe
‘The society may not make progress’
his or her talents or skills, the person and society may be affected in the following ways: The Society may not make progress and development will not come to such societies. If you don’t use the talents God gave you, other people will get cheated. The way you bring glory to God is by using your talents. Use your gifts well to serve one another. The Bible references on talent include: Romans 12:6, Matthew 25:14 – 30, Exodus 35:10.
• Sandra Ojimmadu
‘Less fulfilling, less satisfying, less rewarding life’
Gifts and talents are supernatural gifts every believer is given when they receive the gifts of salvation. When you don’t use your spiritual gifts, you will experience a less satisfying, less fulfilling, less rewarding life as you are limiting yourself or holding yourself back from fully allowing the Holy Spirit to further bear it’s fruits in your life. Use your talent to glorify God, grow the Church and bless others. 1 Peter 4:10 states, “Each of you should use whatever gift you received to serve others.”
• Umennadi Francis Chibunna
‘If we don’t play our part, a lot of people will suffer’
The consequences of not using our talents and gifts are that we are in this world to play a greater part in it and if we don’t play our part, a lot of people will suffer. The Bible says in 1 Peter 4:10:9, “God has given each of you a gift from his great variety of spiritual gifts. Use them well to serve one another”
• Eyinade Gideon
