The Ability to Become
Wade E Taylor

“For the kingdom of heaven is as a man travelling into a far country, who called his own servants, and delivered to them his goods. And to one he gave five talents, to another two, and to another one; to every man according to his several ability; and straightway took his journey.”  Matthew 25:14-15

This verse takes us beyond our initial experience of redemption and has to do with our being prepared (made ready) for a higher purpose.  To accomplish this, the Lord gave “talents,” which are spiritual enablings (power Acts 1:8).  These talents have to do with the capacity and ability to become what the Lord would have us to be.

Each of us are different in our created make-up.  Some of us are very emotional and expressive, while others are extremely inward.  Some are more sensitive than others.  We differ because of our family backgrounds, our intellect, and our family environment.

These talents are an imparted enabling that is commensurate with our creative make-up and has to do with our ability to function in eternal things (realms of the spirit).   He gave to one, one talent, to another, two, and to another, five, to each according to their potential.

“After a long time the lord of those servants came, and reckoned with them.  And so he that had received five talents came and brought other five talents, saying, Lord, you delivered to me five talents: behold, I have gained beside them five talents more. His Lord said to him, Well done, you good and faithful servant: you have been faithful over a few things, I will make you ruler over many things: enter you into the joy of your lord.”

“He also that had received two talents came and said, Lord, you delivered to me two talents: behold, I have gained two other talents beside them. His lord said to him, Well done, good and faithful servant; you have been faithful over a few things, I will make you ruler over many things: enter you into the joy of your lord.”  Matthew 25:19-23

The one who was given five talents returned with ten, and the one that received two came back with four.  Initially, our thought would be that this has to do with much; the two becoming four, and the five becoming ten.  Instead, the Lord said exactly the same thing to both.  He did not say “much done.”  Rather, He said “well done.”  In others words, it is not how much we have, it is what we do with what we have that is important.

It took the same commitment and effort for the two talents to become four, as for the five to become ten.  This relates to a spiritual quality that has developed within each, through the proper use of these talents - “Because you have been faithful over a few things, I will make you ruler over many.”  This faithfulness relates to the Kingdom in operation and refers first, to a ruling within our lives to bring us into divine order.  Then, the Kingdom will begin to function externally through us to affect our surroundings, and eventually, the world. 

Each of us has a certain amount of spiritual capacity, or ability, which we feel is never enough.  The enemy loves to tell us that we are not spiritual, that we are not good enough nor worthy, and that we will never make it.

“Another parable put he forth to them, saying, The kingdom of heaven is like to a grain of mustard seed, which a man took, and sowed in his field: Which indeed is the least of all seeds: but when it is grown, it is the greatest among herbs, and becomes a tree, so that the birds of the air come and lodge in the branches thereof.”  Matthew 13:31-32

This “seed” (talent) was so small that it can hardly be seen.  But, if we will remain faithful, it will become a “tree” (ministry), into which multitudes (birds) will come to receive spiritual food.  Again, it is not how much we have (mustard seed), but, what we do with what we have that is important.

“For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to good works, which God has before ordained that we should walk in them.”  Ephesians 2:10

When we were first redeemed, we received the gift of salvation.  Now, we are to grow into spiritual maturity.  It is the Lord’s responsibility to bring us to the level of maturity that we are capable of attaining.   Our part is simply to cooperate and obey.

He is the workman, we are the product.  He will work through the spiritual capacity that He has found within us.  We are “created in Christ Jesus to good works.”  These  good works are not necessarily good things.  The Word says, “All things work together for good.”  This “all things,” includes even “terrible things.”  It is not the things in themselves that are important; rather, it is what these accomplish.  It may take terrible things to get our attention. 

I was walking with a minister in Washington DC.  We had parked the car and were walking toward the place where I live.  I reached behind me and discovered that my wallet was missing.  We had been to a restaurant just before this and I said,  “Maybe we ought to go back.”  He said, “Let’s look in the car first.”  We walked about twenty feet and saw the wallet lying on the sidewalk.  How it got out of my pocket, I have no idea.  Then I said, “I think the Lord is trying to get our attention.”  Immediately, there came a manifest surge of the presence of the Lord and He begin to speak. 

“Created to good works.”  These good works are things that the Lord uses to bring about an arrangement to reveal a need within us, or issues that could become a hindrance to His higher purpose for us.  There may be a potential for anger.  The Lord can arrange a situation that will allow this potential to surface.  Now, because it has been revealed, it can be dealt with.

The Scripture says that no one can come to the Lord, except they have been drawn of the Father.  When we become aware of this, if we are wise, we will yield the totality of our being to Him like clay in the potter’s hands, to be formed as He desires.  It may be painful, or difficult, and it may happen in ways that we never considered, nor imagined, but it will happen if we choose to place the totality of our being in the hands of our Lord, and then walk in these “good works.”

This parable of the talents has to do with the Kingdom, not salvation.  To the nominal Church, the goal is heaven, but to those who have been enlightened, the goal is the Kingdom, in which we function in a cooperative relationship with the Lord.  Someday, we will be in Heaven, but the Lord is doing something first.  He is preparing those who have a capacity within them that can enter into this higher level of relationship with Him. 

“Let us be glad and rejoice, and give honor to him: for the marriage of the Lamb is come, and His wife has made herself ready.”  Revelation 19:7

We are being “made ready.”  Therefore, He has given us these talents.