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The Talent Triangle

John 15:11-16
Talent Day
March 14, 2010

    Someone said, “Each of us has one note of the musical scale.  If God could just get us all to cooperate, what a wonderful song we could sing!”

    You may feel that you are a “Johnny-One-Note,” and therefore your contributions are relatively unimportant; but if one note on that piano or organ didn’t work, you’d miss it.  If one letter on the computer keyboard didn’t work, you’d miss it.  If one number on your pay-check was omitted and changed the amount from one hundred dollars to ten dollars, you’d miss it.

    Jesus thought one sheep was so important that he left 99 and went after it!

    Our purpose today is to convince you that your place in the Kingdom and in the church is extremely important.  You have abilities and talents that no one else has.  You fill a need that no one else can fill.  God is calling you to His service.  Jesus said, “I chose you. And I gave you this work: to go and produce fruit, fruit that will last . . .” (John 15:16, edb).

    Once a huge symphony orchestra was rehearsing.  There were tubas and saxophones and drums and violins; but suddenly in the midst of all these sounds the conductor paused and shouted, “Where is the piccolo?”

    You see, this very small instrument had a special part to play.  It had a unique sound that completed the composition and it was missed.  When we don’t play our part, we are also missed.  Paul warned us about such negligence.  He said, “Use the gift you have, which was given to you . . .” (1 Tim.  4:14a, edb).

    But how do we identify and apply these gifts?  Well, our particular call involves three aspects.  These are like three sides of a triangle: (1) Our service must include our heads with thinking and reason; (2) Our service must include our hearts will feeling and enthusiasm; (3) And Our service  must include our hands with action and purpose.  It takes all three elements to be productive.

    Because those with oratory and musical and leadership positions are emphasized, we may feel that our little skills and abilities aren’t talents.  But Jesus disagreed.  He gave special attention to small services like offering some one a cup of water:  He said, “Those who give one of these little ones a cup of cold water because they are my followers will truly get their reward” (Matt. 10:42);

    He honored a woman for washing his feet: “When I came into your house, you gave me no water for my feet, but she washed my feet with her tears and dried them with her hair.  I tell you that her many sins are forgiven . . .” (Luke 7:44, 47).

    Another woman annointed him with perfume and he said she deserved world-wide fame.  “This woman poured perfume on my body to prepare me for burial . . . Wherever the Good News is preached in all the world, what this woman has done will be told, and people will remember her” (Matt.  26:12-13, edb);

    He supported Mary for just listening.  Luke says, “Martha had a sister named Mary, who was sitting at Jesus’ feet and listening to him teach.  But Martha was busy with all the work to be done. She went in and said, ‘Lord, don’t you care that my sister has left me alone to do all the work?  Tell her to help me.’  But the Lord answered her, ‘Martha, Martha, you are worried and upset about many things.  Only one thing is important. Mary has chosen the better thing, and it will never be taken away from her” (Luke 10:39-42).

    He specifically said that feeding and visiting and providing clothes for needy people were very important services.  “I was hungry, and you gave me food. I was thirsty, and you gave me something to drink. I was alone and away from home, and you invited me into your house.  I was without clothes, and you gave me something to wear. I was sick, and you cared for me. I was in prison, and you visited me” (Matt.  25:35-36, edb).

    He also said teaching others will be rewarded.  “Whoever obeys the commands and teaches other people to obey them will be great in the kingdom of heaven” (Matt.  5:19).

    You see, all of us have gifts and talents and the abilities to do such simple acts of kindness.  So, how can we answer our call and fill our role?

I.  FIRST WE MUST USE OUR HEAD. WE MUST THINK.

    Analyze your information.  What knowledge do you possess?  What good ideas have you originated?  What plans have you developed?  Remember, God made our brains and expects us to use them.  Solomon said, “People with understanding want more knowledge, but fools just want more foolishness” (Prov.  15:14).  “The person with understanding is always looking for wisdom,
but the mind of a fool wanders everywhere” (Prov.  17:24).

    Hosea said, “My people will be destroyed, because they have no knowledge . . .” (Hos.  4:6).

    An old poet said,

    You can lead a horse to water,
        but you can’t make him drink.
    You can force a man to action,
        But you can’t make him think.

    Yes, thinking is very important, but it’s not enough by itself.  Knowledge without feeling can be destructive.  “The Lord says, “My people . . . are skillful at doing evil, but they don’t know how to do good” (Jer.  4:22b).

    And knowledge without action is useless.  James said, “Anyone who knows the right thing to do, but does not do it, is sinning” (James 4:17).

II.  NEXT, WE MUST USE OUR HEART.  WE MUST FEEL.

    Discover your interests.  What excites you?  What gives you pleasure?  What deep desires do you have?  The Psalmist said, “Serve the Lord with joy; come before him with singing” (Psa. 100:2a).

    Solomon said, “God wants all people to eat and drink and be happy in their work, which are gifts from God” (Ecc.  3;13);
    Ralph Waldo Emerson said, “Nothing great was ever achieved without enthusiasm.”

    But, again, feeling is not enough by itself.  Enthusiasm without thought is dangerous.  Solomon said, “Enthusiasm without knowledge is not good.  If you act too quickly, you might make a mistake” (Prov. 19:2).

    And enthusiasm without action is worthless.  John said, “My children, we should love people not only with words and talk, but by our actions . . .” (1 John 3:18).

III.  FINALLY, WE MUST USE OUR HANDS.  WE MUST ACT.

    Observe the opportunities around you.  What have you already accomplished?  How much energy do you have?  What needs could you fill?  Solomon said, “Whatever work you do, do your best . . .” (Ecc.  9:10);

    “Hard workers will become leaders, but those who are lazy will be slaves” (Prov.  12:24).

    James said, “Do what God’s teaching says; when you only listen and do nothing, you are fooling yourselves” (James 1:22).

    Someone said,

    Just sitting still and wishing,
        Will make no person great.
    The good Lord sends the fishing,
        But you must dig the bait.

    So physical action is very important; but even it is not enough by itself.  Just physical work alone without thought won’t be successful.  Paul said, “In all the work you are doing, work the best you can. Work as if you were doing it for the Lord, not for people” (Col.  3:23).

    And action without feeling is unsuccessful.  Paul also said, “Do not use your freedom as an excuse to do what pleases your sinful self. Serve each other with love” (Gal.  5:13);

    “Do not be lazy but work hard, serving the Lord with all your heart” (Rom.  12:11).

    So, you see, when it comes to Christian service, there are three important sides to the triangle.  (1) Our service must include our heads with thinking and reason; (2) Our service must include our hearts will feeling and enthusiasm; (3) And Our service  must include our hands with action and purpose.  It takes all three elements to be productive.

    If we have a thought and a feeling to match it, but no action, we’re just spinning our wheels.  If the thoughts and feelings are negative, this usually becomes depression.  If the thoughts and feelings are positive, it’s often just unproductive “positive thinking.”

    A physical action is necessary.

    Then, if we have a thought and an action, but no feeling, the action will probably not continue for long, because if our heart is not in it we’ll soon quit.  Our feelings are our greatest motivators.

    Finally, if we have a feeling and an action, but no rational thoughts, there is danger.  This happens with addictive behaviors–overeating, drug abuse, alcoholism, compulsive sex.  The emotions say, “I want it.”  And the body says, “You got it,” before the mind can evaluate it.  Thought is also essential.

    Therefore, if you don’t have all three:  a thought, a feeling and an action, available at the same time, then that undertaking is probably not your call to service.  Refocus on something else that the mind, the heart and the hands are willing to do, and can do, together, now!

    When you think of a good idea that’s positive and reasonable, when you feel excitement and interest in a project, and when you act with determination and persistence, things will happen.

    When this triangle of thinking, feeling and acting is complete, great things will be achieved.  Jesus longed for that to occur.  He said, “There are . . . many people to harvest, but there are only a few workers. So pray to God, who owns the harvest, that he will send more workers to help gather his harvest” (Luke 10:2).

    So, don’t withhold your gift.  Find your unique talents, interests and abilities.  Let them enrich your life, your church and God’s kingdom.

(WC1546)
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