p. 59 | Improve Thy Gift by E. R. Dewey

Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Aug 6, 1872

Improve Thy Gift.

By E. R. Dewey

“Neglect not the gift that is in thee.” 1 Tim. 4: 14.

GIFTS have been common from the earliest times as tokens of affection, honor, or respect. The same word is also applied to the blessings of the gospel and eternal life, which are pre-eminently gifts, and to the Christian graces for the same reason. The parable given in Matt. 25: 14–31, illustrates the manner in which the Lord would have us use the talents, or gifts, which he has intrusted to us, and also shows us that as all our blessings come from God we are accountable to him, and should so use them as to meet his approbation. The man called his servants to him and gave to each one something—“according to his several ability”—representing the various gifts which God bestows on different individuals. He does not give the same to all, and he requires only according to what a man hath. Of course no one will be condemned for not having received more.

And now, what use did these servants make of what they received. The first and second employed their talents in such a manner that they doubled the original amount, showing the good improvement they made of them; but the third hid his talent, did not use it for any good purpose; and his reply to his master shows that he had no love for him, and no disposition to honor him, or even to be just toward him. His master therefore commanded that it be taken from him, for as he would not rightly use what he had, he could no longer have it, and it was given unto the one to whom was given the ten talents. “For unto every one that hath shall be given, and he shall have abundance; but from him that hath not shall be taken even that which he hath.”

“A disposition rightly to use the blessings which God gives, is a preparation for more and greater blessings, and those who employ the blessings which God bestows in his service, and to his glory, will have their blessings greatly increased; while those that have not this disposition, who refuse to employ what God gives them in his service, and to his glory, when God calls them to an account will be deprived of all their blessings, and will have no more given them forever, and will, for their unfaithfulness, be punished as they deserve.”

God graciously bestows upon different individuals different talents and gifts, and all are to use them according to his will. Paul speaks in Rom. 12: 6–8; 1 Cor. 12: 4, 28; and Eph. 4: 11, of the diversities of gifts which are placed in the church; every man has his proper gift of God, and they are so distributed that none are without some gift, so that we can each, if we will, show our love for the Lord in using that which he has given us; nor can we avoid the responsibility, or neglect to cultivate and use the talent intrusted to us without great loss to ourselves. We should not despise nor neglect the smallest gift that comes from his hand. He bestows different measures of grace and means of influence upon different individuals, but always for the wisest reasons, and, “as God assigns to Christians their talents and opportunities, their condition and measure of influence, as will best promote his glory and the good of his kingdom, there is no more reason for strife among them, as to which shall be the greatest, than among the members of the human body. The perfection and highest usefulness of each, consists not in his possessing the talents, exerting the influence, or doing the duties of another, but in rightly discharging his own.” All these gifts should be so employed that he can approve. It is not only necessary that we neglect not the gift he has given us, but we must make the most of it, increase it as much as possible, and use it to the best advantage. Paul exhorts Timothy to “Stir up the gift of God;” to awaken, increase, and render active, his qualifications for usefulness. “For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.” These were his qualifications for doing good, which he was to increase. We are also told to covet, or earnestly desire, the best gifts, and what this is he tells us in the next chapter, 1 Cor. 13. As love to God and to man is the best gift which God bestows, all should most earnestly desire and cherish it in themselves and others.

We should be careful that we “neglect not the gift” he has given us, but seek to know how we may best improve it. We are none of us so weak but that he has intrusted us with something, with the command to “Occupy till I come,” i. e., use it in a right manner. Oh! let us strive earnestly to prove faithful. His coming is only a little way in the future, and if we neglect the gift he has given us, avoid the responsibility he would have us bear, think, oh! think what our position will be then. We have only a short time to work; let us awake, gird on the armor anew, stir up the gift of God, be more in earnest, and make a greater effort to show our love for our Lord, and, “As every man hath received the gift, even so minister to one another, as good stewards of the grace of God;” for we may be assured if we stand back, and come not up to the help of the Lord, he will raise up others to take the place we might fill, and to receive the reward we might have had, while we shall receive the punishment of the unfaithful steward. Who can bear the thought that such shall be their portion? Let us seek earnestly to know what the Lord would have us do; for, if he has a work for us, he will surely give us ability and strength to do it if we rely wholly upon him for help, and walk humbly in the path of duty, for he has thus promised, and his promises are ever sure to those who honor him. If we do our part he will care for and bless us, and if we prove faithful, when he comes he will bestow upon us the gift of God which is eternal life.

E. R. DEWEY.