THE BESTOWAL AND USE OF THE TALENTS.
By M. C. W.
IN our last we showed that the talents and pounds of Matthew 25 and Luke 19 were identical with the gifts of the Spirit. They were given at the same time, for the same purpose, by the same one, to the same persons. These gifts, and offices which are occasioned by the gifts, are enumerated in several scriptures. In 1 Cor. 12:8-11 we read: "For to one is given by the Spirit the word of wisdom; to another the word of knowledge by the same Spirit; to another faith by the same Spirit; to another the gifts of healing by the same Spirit; to another the working of miracles; to another prophecy; to another discerning of spirits; to another divers kinds of tongues; to another the interpretation of tongues; but all these worketh that one and the selfsame Spirit, dividing to every man severally as he will." Similar ones are mentioned in Romans 12:6-8. We there have mentioned prophecy, ministering, teaching, exhorting, giving, ruling. Of the offices which come through these gifts, we have in 1 Cor. 12:28: "And God hath set some in the church, first apostles, secondarily prophets, thirdly teachers, after that miracles, then gifts of healings, helps, governments, diversities of tongues." Eph. 4:11 reads: "And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers." And 2 Cor. 8:7 speaks of the gift of utterance. These gifts are not all given to every man. The Spirit divides to every one severally as he will. 1 Cor. 12:11. All are not prophets or apostles, or teachers or workers of miracles. Verses 29, 30. But just as the different members are given to the body for different purposes, yet for the highest good, so God has placed these gifts in the church for the highest good of the church. Some possess many gifts, as some were given more talents, because God sees that they can use them to his glory. Paul probably possessed all these gifts. He was apostle, prophet, healer, he spoke with tongues, etc. God poured out his Spirit upon him abundantly.407 It may be well to more fully consider some of these gifts and their use. "Wisdom" is that faculty which is "exercised in forming the best plans and in selecting the best means;" it means "prudence, discretion, wise management." "Knowledge," on the other hand, is the mere accumulation of facts, the perception of truth. The gift of knowledge would be the bestowal of such faculties as would acquire truth and to be able to perceive it easily. Cowper has given us an excellent view of both these qualities:— "Knowledge and wisdom, far from being one,
Have offtimes no connection. Knowledge dwells
In heads replete with thoughts of other men;
Wisdom in minds attentive to their own.
Knowledge, a rude, unprofitable mass,
The mere materials with which wisdom builds,
Till smoothed, and squared, and fitted to its place,
Does but encumber whom it seems to enrich.
Knowledge is proud that he has learned so much;
Wisdom is humble that he knows no more."
Both wisdom and knowledge are necessary to an apostle, or "one sent forth," which is what the word apostle means. The apostles of the church were not confined to the twelve, as Paul, Barnabas, and others are mentioned as having the same office. They were sent forth of God to herald his truth, establish his work, and take to some extent a general oversight thereof. Such have existed in every reformation in the church of Christ. How much they needed wisdom in order to lay right plans and build up the work of God. The gift of "faith" is doubtless what all may have, though some are given it in more abundant measure. God has bestowed it upon them that they might be able to encourage their brethren in times of trial and darkness. "Gifts of healing," are understood by all. It is literally, gracious gifts of healing, given through the grace of God. "Working of miracles" is akin to the last gift, but is doubtless exercised in other fields. "Prophecy" is to foretell the future; and is given as the eyes of the church to warn them of dangers. It is the greatest gift and office in the church except that of apostleship. 1 Cor. 12:28; 14:5. It is given for the special edification, or building up, of the church. Verses 4, 22. "Discerning of spirits" is another very useful gift. Satan will always, if possible, introduce into the church his agents to divide and destroy the flock of God; but if this gift is present, the spirit of the evil agent will be perceived and Satan's purposes defeated. Peter discerned the spirit of Ananias (Acts 5:3), and also of Simon (Acts 8:20-23), although Philip had not. The gift of tongues, or languages, and their interpretation were very necessary in the days of the apostles, when so many nations were to be reached and the means were so limited to obtain instruction in the different languages. This gift was especially manifest on the day of Pentecost, and Paul possessed the gift in an eminent degree. 1 Cor. 14:18. Helps, governments, exhortation, evangelists, pastors, teachers, are other needed gifts and offices named, by which the church of God has been built up. Two others are named in Romans 12:7, 8, ministry and giving. Ministering does not mean preaching or exhorting, but serving. To minister is to serve. It is a gift which God will give to all, so that whatever other talent we may possess we may use it in service for some one. So with giving. God bestows the grace of giving upon men by placing in their hands the means to give. How many times do we see this illustrated by men who, before they became children of God, were very close and niggardly, but when they were regenerated their liberality toward God and worthy objects was unbounded. These are the gifts which God has placed in his church for the "perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ." Eph. 4:12. They are for man to use unselfishly for the saints, that is, for his fellows; they are for the work of the ministry, that is, that they may better serve God by manifesting him to the world (Matt. 5:16); they are for the edifying of the body of Christ, that is, the church. The church of God is built up by the winning of precious souls to Christ, by purifying ourselves, by strengthening the faith of others; in short, by laboring as Christ labored. The Lord will require his own with usury. Luke 19:23, Matt. 25:27. He gives us these graces not for our own pleasure, but as stewards. "As every man hath received the gift, even so minister the same one to another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God." 1 Peter 4:10. The Revised Version reads, "a gift." We learn from this text just what we learn from the parables, Rom. 12:3, and 1 Cor. 12:7-11, that everyone receives some gift. We also learn that it is placed in our hands as a trust for which we will be held responsible as stewards; that these gifts are given to be used unselfishly for the glory of Christ in the ministering to our fellowmen; and that whatever gift we possess is but a manifestation of God's grace. See also 2 Cor. 8:4, 6, 7, margin. Who would not wish to be a possessor of God's gracious gifts? How may we become possessors of these valuable gifts? By becoming servants of Christ. The parable is emphatic here. The Lord called not simply his servants, but "his own servants," those who had consecrated themselves to his service, truly his. If we are consecrated to God, are really his, be assured he has bestowed some gift, he has given at least one talent, to use to his glory. It may be only that of ministering; but oh, the opportunities of using it! How many women there are in the church of Christ who possess this talent, yet who are burying it in the world, in fashions, in the light and trifling things that perish with the using, while by their very door live others, out of Christ, who are worried and weary of life with no hope for the life to come. But says one of these who is burying her talent, "I have talked with them on religious things, on points of doctrine, and they have seemed offended." But, dear sister, perhaps your gift is not that of teaching; why not try ministering. Do some helpful little things, be thoughtful for opportunities, till the grace of God through you has opened their hearts, and then perhaps, God will add to the gift of ministering that of exhortation. You can then tell how precious is the religion of Christ, and your experience in ministering will make it so to you. And thus God will add to your talents if you use them in love for him and for precious souls for whom Christ died. All this is just as true of any other gift. "There is that scattereth, and yet increaseth; and there is that withholdeth more than is meet, but it tendeth to poverty," Prov. 11:24. So will it be with these precious gifts of the Spirit of God. But with the gift often comes a cross to the fleshly nature, which has always before this submitted to another master than Christ. Yet the cross is for the crucifixion of the flesh and the increase of the gift. It is one of the means of entire sanctification, till the whole man is wholly sanctified. All, nearly, can do something for the support of the cause of God. All can exercise the grace of giving, which is bestowed upon every one who has means to use. But how many souls are drying up because of the refusal to be liberal toward God. Their wealth may increase, but poverty of soul is the sure result. They are burying their talent in the earth, and God will hold them responsible for their stewardship. But some will say, "I have but one talent, and he with one talent buried it. Does not this indicate that those who have only one gift cannot improve it? that they are among those who will fail ultimately?" By no means. It is not the numbers in the parable that teach the lesson, but the bestowal of the gift and its use. That this is true, is evident from the parable of Luke 19. Each servant received but one pound, but one of them gained ten pounds, another five. And it is the privilege of every child of God to thus improve. Note the value which God places on these gifts. He does not represent them by pence or shekels or other inferior coins, but by pounds and talents, coins of the highest value. Such are the gifts of the Spirit of God. The very lowest is of inestimable value to him who uses it rightly, but a weighty cross to him who slights divinely given opportunities. How will the knowledge that these come from God affect the Christian? Will it lead him to exalt self? Paul tells what it ought to lead him to do. In speaking of these gifts in Rom. 12:3, he says: "For I say, through the grace given unto me, to every man that is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think; but to think soberly, according as God hath dealt to every man the measure of faith." Again, he reproves the Corinthians who were "puffed up," with these words: "Who maketh thee to differ from another? and what hast thou that thou didst not receive? now if thou didst receive it, why dost thou glory, as if thou hadst not received it?" 1 Cor. 4:7. It seems that it was to silence such boasting that God gave the instruction of chapters 12 to 14. How often do we see men whom the world has counted of less than ordinary ability, who have been mighty in doing work for God. They were God's "own servants;" they used the one talent till increased by Him who is able to bestow. Why limit God's power by our unbelief and lack of consecration? The possibilities of loving, active faith we cannot comprehend. May God help our readers to be "his own servants," and to so use their talents that they may hear the "well done" from our coming King. M. C. W.