Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others, as faithful stewards of God’s grace in its various forms. (1 Peter 4:10 NIV)
I’ve really been musing on the story of the man who gave varying amounts of money to three of the people who worked for him, went away on a journey, and came back to collect on what they had invested. This “Parable of the Talents” has many different facets I want to explore, but for today I just want to focus on the aspect that the “master” gave each man an amount, based on his capability.
The master believed each man could wisely steward the amount they were given, whether 5 units, 2 or 1. Knowing each of these servants, he assigned their duties. Two of them doubled what they had been given and deeply pleased the master. One buried it and earned the master’s rebuke.
This weekend at the women’s conference at our church will be many, many male and female volunteers who, collectively, are pooling their “talents” to help the conference come to life. If, say, it took 1000 “talents” to pull off a conference like this, there’s no one person who could have everything needed to do everything. Instead, I use my 2 talents, you use your 5, he uses his 1, the pattern continues, and together we do All the Things.
As I think through the parts of the conference, I find these things to pray for. Would you please join me?
God,
Today we pray for all the volunteers who are helping bring the women’s conference to life. We ask that you give each of them a deep awareness of your Spirit as they minister to the attendees and to one another.
Remind them that whether they have one, two, five, or twenty talents, every gift matters in the Body of Christ and is essential for the common good. Thank you for these faithful stewards of your grace. As they refresh others this weekend, we pray that they themselves would be renewed and strengthened.
Specifically, we pray for:
- The parking lot team — as the first expression of hospitality, may their plans come together seamlessly, and may you keep them safe and warm in the bitter cold.
- The registration team — may their systems function reliably, and may their smiles, warmth, and enthusiasm help each woman feel welcomed and seen.
- The praise and worship team — may they be well prepared, both spiritually and musically, to lead your people into your presence and offer you joyful praise and heartfelt worship.
- The food teams — may the preparation and serving be well-coordinated and nourishing to both body and soul as the women fellowship together.
- The tech team — may every piece of equipment and each operator work without disruption, allowing audio, video, and all technical elements to clearly carry your Word and build up those attending.
- The hospitality and prayer teams — may your Spirit guide their smiles, embraces, words, and prayers as they lovingly minister to the women throughout the conference.
- The workshop leaders and main speakers — may they speak exactly what you would have them say—no more and no less—so that each woman encounters you and is drawn deeper into your heart of love.
As we each use our gifts to build up the Body, may we grow together and boldly testify to your goodness and faithfulness as we encourage one another.
Bless us and keep us. Make your face shine upon us. Grant us your Spirit, your stamina, and your strength. AMEN.
A generous person will prosper; whoever refreshes others will be refreshed. (Proverbs 11:25 NIV)
It’s also like a man going off on an extended trip. He called his servants together and delegated responsibilities. To one he gave five thousand dollars, to another two thousand, to a third one thousand, depending on their abilities. Then he left. Right off, the first servant went to work and doubled his master’s investment. The second did the same. But the man with the single thousand dug a hole and carefully buried his master’s money.
“After a long absence, the master of those three servants came back and settled up with them. The one given five thousand dollars showed him how he had doubled his investment. His master commended him: ‘Good work! You did your job well. From now on be my partner.’
“The servant with the two thousand showed how he also had doubled his master’s investment. His master commended him: ‘Good work! You did your job well. From now on be my partner.’
“The servant given one thousand said, ‘Master, I know you have high standards and hate careless ways, that you demand the best and make no allowances for error. I was afraid I might disappoint you, so I found a good hiding place and secured your money. Here it is, safe and sound down to the last cent.’
“The master was furious. ‘That’s a terrible way to live! It’s criminal to live cautiously like that! If you knew I was after the best, why did you do less than the least? The least you could have done would have been to invest the sum with the bankers, where at least I would have gotten a little interest.
“‘Take the thousand and give it to the one who risked the most. And get rid of this “play-it-safe” who won’t go out on a limb. Throw him out into utter darkness.’” (Matthew 12:14-30 MSG)
There are different kinds of gifts, but the same Spirit distributes them… Now to each one the manifestation of the Spirit is given for the common good. (1 Corinthians 12:4-7 NIV)
From him the whole body… grows and builds itself up in love, as each part does its work. (Ephesians 4:16 NIV)
For just as each of us has one body with many members… so in Christ we, though many, form one body, and each member belongs to all the others. (Romans 12:4-6 NIV)