Chapter 24—Our Talents
The parable of the talents, rightly understood, will bar out cov-
etousness, which God calls idolatry.—
Testimonies for the Church
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God has lent men talents—an intellect to originate, a heart to be
the place of His throne, affection to flow out in blessings to others, a
conscience to convict of sin. Each one has received something from
the Master, and each one is to do his part in supplying the needs of
God’s work.
God desires His workers to look to Him as the Giver of all they
possess, to remember that all that they have and are comes from Him
who is wonderful in counsel and excellent in working. The delicate
touch of the physician’s hand, his power over nerve and muscle, his
knowledge of the delicate organism of the body, are the wisdom of
divine power, to be used in behalf of suffering humanity. The skill
with which the carpenter uses the hammer, the strength with which the
blacksmith makes the anvil ring, come from God. He has entrusted
men with talents, and He desires them to look to Him for counsel.
Thus they may use His gifts with unerring aptitude, testifying that they
are workers together with God.
Property is a talent. To His people the Lord sends the message,
“Sell that ye have, and give alms.” All that we have is the Lord’s,
without any question. He calls upon us to awake, to bear a share of
the burdens of His cause, that prosperity may attend His work. Every
Christian is to act his part as a faithful steward. The methods of God
are sensible and right, and we are to trade on our pence and our pounds,
returning our freewill offerings to Him to sustain His work, to bring
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souls to Christ. Large and small sums should flow into the Lord’s
treasury....
Speech is a talent. Of all the gifts bestowed on the human family,
none should be more appreciated than the gift of speech. It is to be
used to declare God’s wisdom and wondrous love. Thus the treasures
of His grace and wisdom are to be communicated.
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