Contribute Wholeheartedly your Talents are Gifts from God!
How about we give thanks for Talent; an ability to serve, administer, or help someone with a God given ability. It’s easy to ignore our gifts, put them on a shelf where they Lay Dormant; I’m guilty of hiding them or letting them go for selfish reasons. Sometimes in Self-Interest we stop doing or seeking Jobs, Devotionals, or Intimate Relationships.
Maybe we’re hiding a Mental or Physical Hurt or as Charles Stanley wrote, “Some have Unforgiving Spirit; we look for detours to avoid pain. Because of that, when we hurt emotionally, we find ways to avoid painful thoughts or memories.”[1] Ouch! Well, these are truths brethren, and only Christ can deal them out in Constructive ways.
Dear Lord, grant us New Works. Enable our community to serve and serve others well with all their God given ability. Encourage them to take healthy risks. Mend hurts with Righteous Opportunity and forgive the tendency to avoid Sensual Relations. Not all are guilty, not all are innocent, but we all can join in Prayer for those who need to heal.
“In the course of His teaching He said, “Beware of the Scribes, who like to go around in long robes and accept greetings in marketplaces, seats of honor in synagogues, and places of honor at banquets. They devour the houses of widows and, as a pretext, recite lengthy prayers. They will receive a very severe condemnation.”
He sat down opposite the treasury and observed how the crowd put money into the treasury. Many rich people put in large sums. A poor widow also came and put in two small coins worth a few cents. Calling His disciples to Himself, He said to them, “Amen I say to you, this poor widow put in more than all the other contributors to the treasury. For they have all contributed from their surplus wealth, but she, from her poverty has contributed all she had, her whole livelihood.” (Mark 12:38-44 NABRE)
Jesus wants us to contribute Wholeheartedly in whatever we do. The smallest contribution might come from the least of our talents or worth, but it is through Christ they are made bold. Our smallest ability might be enormous to someone else, but tiny in our books. However, as the Widow in today’s Scripture has proven, a little sum or service could be a wholehearted Virtue according Jesus.
[1] Stanley, Charles. “Forgiveness and Confession.” The Gift of Forgiveness. Nashville, Tn.: Thomas Nelson, 1991. 91-92. Print.
