This is one of the best columns I've read in quite some time. I wanted to save it for when I need a refresher course in courage and share it for those hesitating at the brink of something new.
Are you a dreamer waiting for a better day to do God's will? Or are you someone willing to step out of the boat and trust His vision for your life?
Are You Burying Your Talents?
Are you a dreamer waiting for a better day to do God's will? Or are you someone willing to step out of the boat and trust His vision for your life?
Are You Burying Your Talents?
I have many dreams. They vary anywhere from being a writer/speaker to owning my own children’s clothing consignment store. They are all over the map and I love talking about each of them. You’ll find me saying a lot, “One day I would love to…..” or “Wouldn’t it be great if some day…..”
Talking about my dreams is great, but doing something about them is a different story.
Ask me what I’m going to actually do to realize those dreams and all you will get from me is a blank stare.
The way to get started is to stop talking and start doing. (Walt Disney)
Taking action is risky.
There is usually too much involved and not enough time or money. I like safety and comfort, not risk and the unknown. So when God lays something on my heart that is out of my comfort zone, I stall. I make excuses and sometimes I outright ignore his nudges.
I recently heard a sermon on using our gifts and taking risks. The pastor said, “Discipleship doesn’t mean a safe harbor….venture out to what’s unknown and God will meet you there.” (<==Tweet that)
Did you know that most of the dreamers of this world took a risk and ended up in a place different than they expected?
Take Christopher Columbus for instance.
Not once did he make his plans, set sail, and then land where he thought he would. He had vision though, and he wasn’t afraid of taking the risk.
Where there is no vision the people will perish… (Proverbs 29:18)
I believe Christians are called to be risk takers. One of my favorite writers/bloggers, Melanie Shankle had this to say about taking risk:
Because here’s the thing, it’s easier to sit on your couch than to risk failing. It’s easier to sit on your couch than to be out in the world where you’re vulnerable and open to being hurt or disappointed. But you know what happens while you sit on your couch playing Candy Crush and watching Tami Taylor? Life. Beautiful, gorgeous, fragile, heartbreaking, mind-blowing, life. God has a script written for each and every one of us, no matter who we are or what we’ve done or how much we feel completely ill-equipped for the adventure.(Big Mama aka Melanie Shankle)
In the parable of talents found in Matthew 25:14-30 we see a Master who gives his servants a certain number of talents according to their ability. The Master gave one servant five talents, which the servant doubled. The next servant was given two talents. He did the same. The last servant was given one talent and he buried it in the dirt.
He buried his talent in the dirt!
So I was afraid, and I went and hid your talent in the ground. Here you have what is yours. Matthew 25:25
Yikes! I would hate to have been that guy!
But aren’t we just like him? Don’t we too refuse to obey and following the call we know God is putting on our lives?
The bad servant played it safe. He was afraid of the unknown, so he buried his talents. The servant expected his Master to be thankful for protecting the talent. Instead, the master was infuriated.
The Master trusted his servant with a little to see what he would do. And the servant did nothing.
We can talk all day long about our dreams, but at the end of the day, talk is cheap and leads nowhere.
God doesn’t play it safe, He took risks (look at creation). And I think He expects the same of us.
How have you played it safe? What is one thing you’ve been holding back on because you’re afraid take a risk?
Shared by: Alecia Simersky
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