Responsibility: Using What You're Given

This notion that responsibility is showing I can be trusted with what is expected of me is challenging me to take a very close look at whether or not I am as responsible as I believe myself to be. I think I am a responsible person; give me a task to do and I will get it done. On the other hand, I find myself not seeking out opportunities to be "responsible." At this point in my life, I have learned that when I consent to do something, that means I have to put time and effort into it that will take away from time and effort I want to put into doing what I want to do! So, when I took a look at the question confronting our kids at church this week - What in the world are you doing to use what God gave you - and read the story from the Bible that they will study - Matthew 25:14-29 - I had no choice but to try to answer that question for myself in light of what God says!

God's given each of us "talents" to use for his purposes. Some people are off the charts gifted, by this world's estimation, and the rest of us are just "normal." Whether we think we have what it takes to serve God like those Christians who serve as our icons of greatness or not is irrelevant to us being responsible to use what God has given us to fulfill his charge to follow him and make disciples (John 21:19, 22; Matthew 28:18-20; Mark 16:15-18; Luke 24:47-49; John 20:21-22).

None of us can claim insignificance. God has equipped us to fulfill his Great Commission in exactly the way he sees fit. He knew when he created us precisely how, when, where, and with whom we would be used by him. He designed us specifically for the job. He didn't put us on earth to use talents belonging to someone else or not use our own because we believe them to be inadequate. He gives us what we need to complete our responsibilities as a disciple with success. The only sameness among us is the "what" to which we are called - we are to be servants, carrying the Gospel to the lost.

Here's what I know to be true - God will never ask us to do anything that he will not equip us to do. He may stretch us, pull us out of our comfort zone, and push us to take a risk, but he will NOT leave us hanging. When he called us to follow him and make disciples, he promised that we would be given the power to do the work (Mark 16:15-18; John 14:12,26; Acts 1:8).

When I stand before God, I want to hear him say he's pleased with how I used the talents he gave me. I want him to see, in the meantime, that he can trust me with more responsibility (Matthew 25:23). 

"He who is faithful in what is least is faithful also in much...."

Lord, we know that we don't have any excuses for not fulfilling the responsibility you have given us with the talents you have provided. Please cause us to become uncomfortable with our willingness to bury our talents and avoid our responsibility to follow you. Move us to seek the power and anointing of your Holy Spirit so that we will be faithful to serve. In your name, amen.