So you think you've come up with the
best idea since sliced bread. Or maybe you've written a poem or a book that
will change lives. Perhaps you have perfected a technique that will revolutionize
a current process. What are you doing with your idea, talent, or gift?
We read in Matthew 25:15-28 about
the man travelling the country that gave talents to his servants. I like what
it says in verse 15. He gave the talents to each of them according to their ability
or their willingness to use their talent in the most beneficial way. The
servants that were given the most talents used their talents and doubled them.
The servant that received one talent buried his talent. He said he was afraid.
He didn't want to lose the one talent he was given so rather than risk it her
buried it, but as you read in verse 28 he still lost his talent. It was taken
from him and given to the servant that was initially given 5 talents.
Which servant are you? Are you
willing to take a risk? Are you willing to step out and use your talent to
benefit others as well as yourself? Have you ever seen a product, a book, a
movie or even a recipe that's similar to an idea of yours? Have you ever seen a
person doing exactly what it is that you love to do? What thoughts go through
your mind? Do you think I thought of that years ago or that's supposed to be
me? Do you become jealous or envious? Perhaps you become angry with yourself
for not following through.
So what's your next step? It would
be easy to convince yourself your idea has already been done. It's especially disconcerting
if your idea has been brought to fruition by a well known personality. Well I'm
here to tell you no one can do what you can do exactly the way you do it. Your
gifts are your gifts! Your destiny is your destiny! How many brands of chocolate
chip cookies are there? How many motivational speakers are there? How many
fashion designers are there? How many books have been written on the topic you
feel led in your heart to write? Not everything will appeal to everyone. Your
audience is your audience!
Indulge me for a moment. Imagine a
group of people wandering aimlessly. They've tried one thing or another but
have not been able to have a specific need met. Who knows, you may be one of
those people. I know I am. I have been on a hunt for the perfect fitting shoe
all of my life. My feet are long and narrow. Anyone who has ever shopped for apparel
or shoes knows different brands fit differently. And, to add to that as most of
you know one side of your body is slightly bigger than the other. Anyway, back
to my shoe challenge. If I find the right length the shoe is usually too wide.
Sometimes I can add pads to get a better fit. If I find the right width the
shoe may be a smidgen too short. I haven't tried stretching my shoes to get a
better fit. That's my next step. I said all of this to say. We all have things
we are in need of and someone may have hidden the talent in the ground that
could meet the needs of a huge audience.
One of my fears has been what if
someone with more resources gets wind of my idea and produces it before I can
produce it?
What gift or talent do you have that you have buried? Don't
be afraid you will not succeed. What God has placed in you He is more than able
to cause to succeed. Make a commitment to start today. Get back on track if
you've gotten off track. Pull out that old notebook full of ideas. Your time is
now? And by the way, which one of you has the design for my perfect fitting
shoe?
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