The other day I saw a post about how are talents are a gift from God and that what we do with them are our gifts back. I've heard this sentiment before and it seems easy enough and nice enough but it somehow never sits right with me because I keep hearing "or who has given a gift to him that might be repaid." (Romans 11:35)
This morning it hit me why that sentiment didn't sit right with me. We talk about how God gives us gifts and how the ultimate gift is his Son but what we forget is that it's no longer a gift if we try to repay Him. "Now to the one who works, his wages are not counted as a gift but as his due." (Romans 4:4) So it's like we are try regift it or earn it. But life in Christ means we are already His, so that means the gifts are already His, then how are we to give back or repay what already belongs to Him, "For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand..." Ephesians 2:10. The point is you definitely can't give them back or repay them.
So what are we to do with our gifts from God if not give them back?
"....That we should walk in them." (Ephesians 2:10) How happy is the child who plays on their new swing set; are they sitting around thinking about how it will benefit their parents? No! They are enjoying it to the fullest and thanking their parents for it. And with their parents help, they reach heights on that swing higher than they could've ever imagined or done on their own. They are excited to share them with their friends and say "Look at what my parents gave me and look how high I go when they push me!" That's how it is with God. We are all given gifts, but their design is to be propelled by God taking us to heights we could never imagine or reach on our own. He delights in us singing out "higher Daddy, higher!" And how will people know how great our Daddy is if we don't share our gift?
Also, as the giver He knows how the swing works best and what would hurt us. He lays out careful instruction and if we do not pay attention we will fall out and hurt ourselves or get tangled up in the chains. We just have to stop trying to show God how we think it works or how we know a trick that He should learn, and we have to trust God with our lives. He will be there with us, showing us how to swing and there to push and catch us. Yes the purpose of the gift is the common good but how can one ever reach it's fullest practice if we are trying to put a down payment or prove something? If we would just humble ourselves, listen and not try to turn around and kick away His hands to do it on our own, we would achieve so much more. Because if we seek our own glory and own way of giving back to God, then no matter how hard we swing our legs back and forth or whatever tricks we come up with, we are not going to be able to do it right or to the fullest without God.
and there are varieties of service, but the same Lord;
and there are varieties of activities, but it is the same God who empowers them all in everyone.
To each is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good.
1 Corinthians 12: 4-7
