Recently our Bible classes transitioned from the second quarter to the third quarter. For the children’s classes, we progress through the Bible in order, cycling through the entire Old and New Testament over three years. Each quarter has a catchy theme created by the curriculum we use to help organize the material in a way kids can understand and help bring each lesson back to a core message. We have visuals we’ve either made or purchased- posters, graphics, bulletin board accessories, games, etc. to brighten up the classroom and pull the kids into learning.
This past quarter, we had a relatively new member sign up to be an assistant for a children’s class. She signed up on her own, quietly on the paper sign up sheet. On the “teacher work day”, a Saturday in between the end of one session and the beginning of the other, she came to help set up the classroom she would be assisting in.
It was my turn to clean up this classroom from teaching the previous quarter. I showed her where materials were kept and our craft supply closet. We chatted about different class bulletin board ideas and I showed her how we would need to do a major repair to the board I had done- a now very visible bald spot previously strategically hidden by a pocket chart.
With very little direction, she got to work. She made fake grass to cover the empty spot on the bulletin board. Since the kids will be studying the “Divided Kingdom”, 1 Kings, she split the board in half, drawing a castle with a golden calf on one side and a castle with a cross on the other. I was in awe. I profusely thanked her for her work and for coming to help. She smiled and said something to the effect of, “It’s no big deal. I’ve never taught a kids Bible class before so I don’t have much experience there. I do like to draw though so I can do that!”
Her words struck me as beautiful and also had a sense of embarrassment or defeat. While in her mind, she wasn’t contributing much with her creative efforts, to me, they were big. Using her time and talent to enrich our kids’ Bible classes, especially as a newcomer to the group, is a gift. It would have been easy for her to sit in the background and ignore the announcements for the need for Bible class teachers. She could have skipped the workday which begins at 9am on a Saturday. When you go to church on Sunday morning, Saturday morning is for sleeping in! Yet she made the effort to do something she’s never done before and used her skills to bless this children’s class.
This interaction has been replaying in my mind for the last few weeks as I’ve thought about Christian’s responsibility to serve each other and use our talents to further God’s work.
When I think of a willing heart to serve God, the prophet Isaiah immediately comes to my mind. Isaiah became a prophet during a difficult time in Old Testament history, when Israel had divided into two nations and the majority of the earthly kings were not faithful to God. The people had replaced the one, true living God with idols, often carved images they would worship and make sacrifices to. These idols did not require obedience and a change of heart so they were easier to serve. Like a Crock pot, these gods were “set it and forget it”- perform the rituals, say the right words, and get on with your day. Unlike our real God, the idols did not require much but were merely a box to be checked before the people did what they wanted to do.
God commissioned the prophets, including Isaiah, to remind the people that their sinful choices would have reprocoussins and they needed to repent and follow God. As you can imagine, telling people they are in the wrong and need to make different life choices is not an easy job and does not make you a popular person. In Isaiah chapter six, we read about Isaiah’s vision, when God comes and does two things. First, He cleanses Isaiah of his sin. Second, He asks for a volunteer to go forward and prophesy to the people.
“And I heard the voice of the Lord saying, “Whom shall I send, and who will go for us?” Then I said, “Here I am! Send me.”” -Isaiah 6:8 ESV
God goes on to tell Isaiah what he will need to say to the people; God is not happy with them. In this exchange, we don’t get much information about Isaiah’s reaction to God’s question besides his reply. Does Isaiah hesitate before answering? Does he think he is qualified for the big, important job he has just signed up for? Does He have questions for God about what he will have to do? I always have questions when someone asks me to do something!
For all of the nuances we can imagine in this conversation, Isaiah’s response is one of enthusiasm, similar to “I am right here, of course I am able to do the job!” I don’t get the impression he looks down at his feet, kicks the dirt, and mumbles “if you don’t find anyone else, I guess I can do it”. He steps forward with his hand raised high to do the work God has put before him. This is impressive because of the difficulty of the job. Isaiah is eager to serve. When we read Isaiah, we read about a joyful follower doing the Lord’s work.
In the parable of the “talents” in the New Testament, we read about a man who was given a gift by his master that he did not put to good use. I put talents in quotations because in this parable (an earthly story with a heavenly meaning) talents don’t mean skill or ability but instead a measure of weight of money. A talent was a considerable sum of money back then!
In Matthew chapter 25, we read about the master who had three servants. He gave the first servant 5 talents, the second servant 2 talents, and the third servant 1 talent. The first servant traded in his 5 talents for 5 more talents and now had 10. The second servant did the same and increased his 2 talents into 4 talents. The third servant buried his one and only talent. After a long time, the master came back and wanted to settle his accounts with them.
He asked them individually what they had done with the talents he had given them. The first two shared they had multiplied the money. The master was pleased. The third servant confessed he had hidden his talent in the ground. He stated how he knew the master was a hard man and essentially was afraid to disappoint him and mishandle the talent. Instead of doing anything with it, he had done nothing with it. On one hand, he didn’t lose any of the money he was given. However, seeing what his fellow slaves had been able to do with their money, it is clear he definitely missed opportunities to be fruitful with it. His master does not react kindly:
“‘You wicked and slothful servant! You knew that I reap where I have not sown and gather where I scattered no seed? Then you ought to have invested my money with the bankers, and at my coming I should have received what was my own with interest…For to everyone who has will more be given, and he will have an abundance. But from the one who has not, even what he has will be taken away.” – Matthew 25: 26-27,29 ESV
The master’s response seems harsh and you can understand why he is frustrated. He entrusted this servant with a large sum of money with the expectation his servant would do something positive with it. Instead, the servant put forth no effort to do anything with the gift he was given. Superficially, this parable could be seen as a financial lesson on investing and we know the point of the parable is deeper.
God has given each of us one of a kind skills (talent) to be able to do work for His kingdom. We all have different personalities, strengths, weaknesses, interests etc. that can be used to further the spreading of the gospel. No one is exactly alike and that is by God’s design. He puts us in front of people and in situations we are uniquely qualified to handle, even when we aren’t sure we are. However our skills are of no use if they never see the light of day. A hoe in the shed is useless when you have been tasked to turn over the garden and only have your hands to do it. When you have the correct tool for the job, the job will be done quicker and more efficiently. It is not enough to have the skill, you must use it or it is worthless. God does not give us abilities so they can sit in a corner collecting dust. He wants us to use the resources He has given us actively so they enrich others and teach them about Jesus.
Perhaps we have a willing heart and don’t have many quantifiable abilities. Surely there is something we can do to help and serve others. If our heart is looking to please God and make a positive impact, an eager Christian will find a need and fill it. If we have natural abilities or interests, are we using them to glorify God and point others to Him? Can we use our car to give the elderly rides to service? What about using our technical skills to help set up and maintain the sound system so everyone can hear the preacher? We all know there is plenty to do in the children’s Bible classes and we all know how much Jesus loved the little children. Are we signing up to help teach or assist?
Most days before my kids leave for school I remind them to “shine their light”, shortening Matthew 5:14-16:
““You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden. Nor do people light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a stand, and it gives light to all in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.”
We are the light. We need to shine brightly with the skills God has given us, willingly, with a joyful heart. It doesn’t make sense to put a light under a basket or bury money in the ground just as it doesn’t make sense for Christians to allow themselves to become stagnant workers in the kingdom of God. We need to be an Isaiah and answer the call from God to be active Christians. Here is your encouragement to think about the skills God has given you and think about how you can use them, today, and in the future.
