Responsible and responsive

Matthew 25:14-19
"For it is as if a man, going on a journey, summoned his slaves and entrusted his property to them; to one he gave five talents, to another two, to another one, to each according to his ability. Then he went away.

The one who had received the five talents went off at once and traded with them, and made five more talents. In the same way, the one who had the two talents made two more talents. But the one who had received the one talent went off and dug a hole in the ground and hid his master's money. After a long time the master of those slaves came and settled accounts with them.

While I am alive, I am gifted abundantly with resources that enable me to function as a servant of Christ. By caring for and using my gifts responsibly, I can be MOST responsive to the way God calls for the way those gifts can be used. I look regularly at the riches bestowed upon me and upon those with whom I share Christ's ministry.

Money...Time....Abilities

Money is actually the most concrete -- it comes in...and goes out...sometimes at a pace I can manage, but not always. Regardless, it is fairly easy to see its variability. It may not always move in the way I had hoped, but its movement is measurable and observable.

Time...another gift. It is more elusive. My understanding of its passage is dependent upon my mindfulness. When I am attentive to what is going on right now, minutes unfold with rich fullness -- they seem to be literally s-t-r-e-t-c-h-e-d out in a way that expands my appreciation of what is happening. When I am more distracted or when my mind is preoccupied with thoughts of the future or the past, the present moment seems to whisk by...and I find myself constantly asking "Where did the time go?" Did I miss the gift of time? Probably! My awareness of this moment that is with me "right now" whether it is in solitude or in a crowd seems to expand the moment's inherent potential. The ability to be open to the way time flows enables me to be grateful for the time I am given, and radically curious about the way God and I will use it.

Abilities... The awareness of spiritual gifts and God-given abilities is more elusive. Our vision of ourselves is sometimes distorted...and sometimes we are timid about the release of our giftedness. This could be a fear of being "used" to extreme. Or, it could be a fear of rejection...of being mistaken. How many of us have wondered about our skill and subsequently restrained it because of our own expectations regarding a degree of success...or the quality of performance.

However, I can't increase any of my abilities by refusing to let others see them...it is as simple as that! In fact, I sometimes don't recognize my greatest abilities until they have somehow been affirmed by somebody else. They need to be used....and used freely! It also is true that the usage enhances the number of ways that God-given gifts can be used in the future. When the resource of "talent" is expended on behalf of the greater good, there is a miracularous replenishment. This is mysterious....it can't be measured or guantified. The phenomenon is amazing...and true. God participates in the utilization of the gifts he gives each one of us,for our own good, and for the good of others,replenishing our store so that they grow and flow! This is true regardless of the nature of the ability.

What are some ways that you typically respond to the stewardship questions? How have you been blessed? How do you manage (care for) your blessings? How do you respond to God's invitation to use them freely as you serve others?