“His master said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant.’”
Last month Karen and I went live and talk about our group, Girlfriends Inspired by God, Fave’s G.I.G. Later that day during a playdate with my grandson, Enzo noticed my eye shadow. And then he noticed my earrings.
Noticing the Details
After telling Enzo’s dad, my son, about Enzo’s observations, I asked, “Kevin, did you notice my eye shadow and earrings?”
“No, Mom I was focused on finishing up my work project.”
After telling my husband about Enzo’s observations, I asked, “Kurt, did you notice my eye shadow and earrings?”
“I think you always have pretty eyes…”
I wasn’t upset with Kevin’s and Kurt’s reply; I was just very surprised by Enzo’s. He notices the details.
I want to notice the details. And more specifically, I want to notice God in the details.
Noticing God in the Details
Why is that so important?
- It’s important to give credit where credit is due. If I don’t see God in the details, I’m patting myself on the back and saying, “Whoa, Deanna, nicely done!”
- Not only do I want to give credit where credit is due, but I want to give God glory. I need to give God glory.
As Kirk Franklin’s song reminds us,
Our God is an awesome God.
He reigns from Heaven above with wisdom, power and love.
3. Third, I want to use my talents wisely, powerfully, and lovingly, all to God’s glory.
As you know, Jesus loved telling stories. Parables they were called. They were simple stories used to tell spiritual lessons.
In Matthew, Jesus tells a story about a man going on a journey.
Before leaving, he entrusted his property to servants, each according to his abilities. One servant got five talents, another two, and a third received one.
When he returned home, the master asks his servants for an accounting.
The first and second servants said, “Master, you gave me five talents and I have made five more.” “You gave me two talents and I have made two more.”
To both, the master replied, “Well done.”
The third servant knew his master to be a hard man, so he hid his talent, meaning he only had one talent to return.
The master was angry. “You should have invested the money and at least returned it with interest.”
God has given all of us all talents (and here I’m thinking about talents as skills and abilities, not necessarily monetary units).
Depending on the time and place in our life, we might receive 5 or 2 or 1 talents. And whether it’s 5 or 2 or 1, God needs us to use those skills and aptitudes, returning honor to Him. We are not to hide them.
But remember, God equips each one of us. He’s part of who we are and all that we do. He’s in the details of our day, our opportunities, our relationships.
If we don’t see and appreciate that, we can feel like we’ve been given an onerous task by “a hard man.” And that can leave us fearful, overly cautious, hiding from opportunities and shrinking with uncertainty.
God is not “a hard man.” God is a wise, powerful, and loving Father who believes in us.
The talents given to us are His. He’s in the details.
The talents given to us are in proportion to who we are and where we are at this moment in time. He’s in the details.
The talents given to us can grow under God’s watch and with God’s care. He’s in the details.
Heavenly Father, we continue to marvel at the talents you have entrusted to each one of us. Help us use them to Your glory. Help us see You, find You, and honor You in the details of our life, knowing You walk with each one of us. In the name of Your dear Son, Jesus, amen.
