USE THAT TALENT

All of us have been talented in one way or the other and that is why we are all unique. I have seen many men complaining that they have not been blessed like other men without appreciating that all of us have been talented differently. We have men that utilize their talents fully while others sit around and criticize those using their talents. God is counting on you to use that talent that He has given you.
As I grew up the teachers wrote about me; “ Kigume…..is a quiet and humble boy”. True enough, I believed them. As I discovered my talents, I refused to accept what the teachers had said about me and I became outspoken in my home area and even at college. I have continued exploiting my talents and that is why I am writing to you so that you can do something about that unused talent within you. You may be a very good artist but you have never brought it out; you can do something my friend. I have seen musicians who have used their talents very well and they are happy about it.
Why should you take that talent to the grave while you can utilize it here for the glory of God.
Jesus taught that God has given us all talents. The use of the talents is important to God. Our part is the stewardship or use of those talents. We will be judged based on the use (or lack thereof) of what God has given us.
Matthew 25:26-30
"But his lord answered and said to him, 'You wicked and lazy servant, you knew that I reap where I have not sown, and gather where I have not scattered seed. So you ought to have deposited my money with the bankers, and at my coming I would have received back my own with interest. So take the talent from him, and give it to him who has ten talents. 'For to everyone who has, more will be given, and he will have abundance; but from him who does not have, even what he has will be taken away. And cast the unprofitable servant into the outer darkness. There will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.'(NKJV)
The Word of God tells us both in the Old and New Testaments that work is a very important aspect in the life of every person. Jesus taught that it is a sin when we do invest or use the talents that God has given each one of us to make this world a better place to live. We become a wicked, lazy and worthless servant when we hide our talents.
In teachings about talents, I encourage people to take time to discover their talents, develop them, and then apply them. I believe that every person has at least several talents buried somewhere which need to be brought to the surface. It is sad that only a few people ever scratch the surface to their potential abilities. Most go through life without ever knowing who they are, what gifts God has given them, or what their purpose is in God's Kingdom. They fail to realize that every person is a unique individual created for a special and specific purpose by God.
What is it that God wants you to accomplish while you are alive?
Basic Principles of Understanding Talents
1) People need to be motivated and encouraged in every way to find out what they gives them satisfaction in doing. Then they should be trained in skills which promote competence in that area.
2) We must believe in what we are doing. For anyone to succeed in any type of work, effectiveness, enthusiasm, and hard work are essential. Ecclesiastes 9:10: ‘Whatever your hand finds to do, do it with your might; for there is no work or device or knowledge or wisdom in the grave where you are going”. (NKJV)
3) All people who are capable should be self-reliant and self-disciplined, not allowing themselves to drift aimlessly to and fro without goals and purpose. They should be motivated to explore new opportunities that will expand their skills, horizons, possibilities and innovations. Ephesians 4:28 “Let him who stole steal no longer, but rather let him labor, working with his hands what is good, that he may have something to give him who has need”.(NKJV)
4) God wants each one of us to accomplish His dreams in our lives so that we can enjoy His riches. We should stop nursing our daydreams and start acting on them to give them life. Proverbs 14:23: ”In all labor there is profit, But idle chatter leads only to poverty.”(NKJV)
5) The fruits of our future happiness or the poverty of tomorrow lies unborn in the talents we possess today. If we use them right, then tomorrow we shall live happily, but when we scarcely use them today, we will harvest poverty. Proverbs 10:4: “He who has a slack hand becomes poor, But the hand of the diligent makes rich”.(NKJV) Proverbs 10:4: “Lazy hands make a man poor, but diligent hands bring wealth.”(NIV) Proverbs 22:29 “Do you see a man skilled in his work? He will serve before kings; he will not serve before obscure men”.(NIV)
6) People should never settle for less than they are worth. They should go for quality work, for excellence, for victory and accomplishment. The people who do not have skills or are slow in learning should commit whatever they have into God's hands. God is able to bless our skills if we are willing to dedicate them to His use and not limit what He can do through us.
Exodus 31:1-5 Then the LORD said to Moses, "See, I have chosen Bezalel son of Uri, the son of Hur, of the tribe of Judah, and I have filled him with the Spirit of God, with skill, ability and knowledge in all kinds of crafts-- to make artistic designs for work in gold, silver and bronze], to cut and set stones, to work in wood, and to engage in all kinds of craftsmanship.(NIV)
7) God can fill us with skill, ability and knowledge in all fields if we are dedicated to building His Kingdom and to meeting the needs of His people. He has all the knowledge available for us. He can make our minds capable and quick in understanding. He can open doors for us to acquire all the skills we want. This is what he did to Bezalel. Let us pray to God, and let Him reveal His will for us. Get into the program of God. See things His way - we could be a chosen Bezalel!. Psalm 119:97-100: “Oh, how I love your law! I meditate on it all day long. Your commands make me wiser than my enemies, for they are ever with me. I have more insight than all my teachers, for I meditate on your statutes. I have more understanding than the elders, for I obey your precepts.”(NIV)

8) This is the secret if we want God's blessings in our undertakings. He will make us wiser than our competitors, and give us new strategies, insights and precepts if we seek Him and His ways. Experience shows us that all people who have had true success are those who have done things God's way. True success does not come in any other way. The people of the world may seem successful, but if we dig deeper we will find that it is all false. We will find many people who have been hurt, used, and cheated by these so-called successful people. What use are our skills if they are not to promote God's Kingdom, help the poor and the helpless, build and bless humanity and, above all, show God's glory?
Be Diligent Using Your Talents

Proverbs 12:24 “Diligent hands will rule, but laziness ends in slave labor.”(NIV)
Proverbs 12:27 “The lazy man does not roast his game, but the diligent man prizes his possessions.”(NIV)
a. We will rule our circumstances if we are diligent.
b. Refuse to be a slothful person. Slothfulness does not come from God, for He hates slothful people Proverbs 21:5: “The plans of the diligent lead to profit as surely as haste leads to poverty” (NIV).
c. Let Him strengthen our abilities and skills.
Work is God Given
1) The first thing that God gave man was work – responsibility. Genesis 2:5
“..and no shrub of the field had yet appeared on the earth and no plant of the field had yet sprung up, for the LORD God had not sent rain on the earth and there was no man to work the ground”,(NIV)
2) God does not want us to be idle. 2 Thessalonians 3:7-10: “For you yourselves know how you ought to follow our example. We were not idle when we were with you, nor did we eat anyone's food without paying for it. On the contrary, we worked night and day, laboring and toiling so that we would not be a burden to any of you. We did this, not because we do not have the right to such help, but in order to make ourselves a model for you to follow. For even when we were with you, we gave you this rule: "If a man will not work, he shall not eat."(NIV)
3) The purpose of our work should be for the glory of God. 1 Corinthians 10:31: “So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the
glory of God.”(NIV)
4) We cannot afford to be lazy. Work! Proverbs 10:5: “He who gathers crops in summer is a wise son, but he who sleeps during harvest is a disgraceful son”.(NIV) Laziness brings on deep sleep, and the shiftless man goes hungry (Pr.19:15).
5) Avoid cheap talk. Work! Proverbs 14:23:”All hard work brings a profit, but mere talk leads only to poverty.”(NIV)
6) We are to be a workman approved of God. We need to be our best. (2Ti.2:15)
7) Everything we do, we do it to the glory of God (Co.3:17)
8) We are to be productive and fruitful workers (1Th.4:11-12).
9) Earn our own bread. We need to stop being beggar! Be free! (1Th.3:12).
10) We cannot be a daydreamer. Put our dreams into action Proverbs 12:11: “He who works his land will have abundant food, but he who chases fantasies lacks judgment.”(NIV).
 
I believe we can make the best use of all the talents we have. Once we invest in our talents we are going to get hundredfold of results.
My challenge to you is encourage to use that talent. Your family, the society, neighbors, the Church and everybody around you will be encouraged and will also use their also.