Talents
by Ellen White
(Remarks at BC Bible School 2-7-90) We do not know what work God has for us to do, we
cannot tell, unless we begin with the very talents He has given us. If ...God sees that we
are faithful in that which is least, then He will give us another talent.... And thus the
talent keeps increasing and growing; and the more we put it to the exchangers the more
talents we have to employ to the glory of God. 1888 563
In connection with the proclamation of the message in large cities, there are many
kinds of work to be done by labourers with varied gifts. Some are to labour in one way,
some in another. The Lord desires that the cities shall be worked by the united efforts of
labourers of different capabilities. All are to look to Jesus for direction, not depending
on man for wisdom, lest they be led astray. As labourers together with God they should
seek to be in harmony with one another. There should be frequent councils and earnest,
wholehearted co-operation. Yet all are to look to Jesus for wisdom, not depending upon men
alone for direction. 9T 109
The Lord has given to some ministers the ability to gather and to hold large
congregations. This calls for the exercise of tact and skill. In the cities of today,
where there is so much to attract and please, the people can be interested by no ordinary
efforts. Ministers of God's appointment will find it necessary to put forth extraordinary
efforts in order to arrest the attention of the multitudes. And when they succeed in
bringing together a large number of people they must bear messages of a character so out
of the usual order that the people will be aroused and warned. They must make use of every
means that can possibly be devised for causing the truth to stand out clearly and
distinctly. The testing message for this time is to be borne so plainly and decidedly as
to startle the hearers and lead them to desire to study the Scriptures. 9T 109
God wishes us to have the mastery over ourselves. But He cannot help us without our
consent and co-operation. The divine Spirit works through the powers and faculties given
to man. AA 482
Health is a blessing of which few appreciate the value; yet upon it the efficiency of
our mental and physical powers largely depends. Our impulses and passions have their seat
in the body, and it must be kept in the best condition physically and under the most
spiritual influences in order that our talents may be put to the highest use. COL 346
The words of Christ teach that we should regard ourselves as inseparably bound to our
Father in heaven. Whatever our position, we are dependent upon God, who holds all
destinies in His hands. He has appointed us our work, and has endowed us with faculties
and means for that work. So long as we surrender the will to God, and trust in His
strength and wisdom, we shall be guided in safe paths, to fulfil our appointed part in His
great plan. But the one who depends upon his own wisdom and power, is separating himself
from God. Instead of working in unison with Christ, he is fulfilling the purpose of the
enemy of God and man. DA 209
I have borne abundant testimony, setting forth the fact that the ability to write a
book, is, like every other talent, a gift from God, for which the possessor is accountable
to him. This talent no man can buy or sell without incurring great and dangerous
responsibility. Those who labour to bring about changes in the publication of books, to
place the books wholly under the control of the publishing houses or the Conference, know
not what they are talking about. Their eyes are blinded, and they work from a wrong
standpoint. Selfishness is a root of bitterness whereby many are defiled. PH080 38
There is a work to be done by living human agencies, which they are slow to comprehend.
They need to study the Scriptures, to search the Bible, with humble, teachable minds, that
they may know their place in the work, and not move haphazard, but fall into line, keeping
step with Jesus. "Prepare ye the way of the Lord, make straight in the desert a
highway for our God." Every talent with which God has endowed the human agent is now
to be awakened, to be employed, not solely in worldly transactions, to buy and sell and
get gain, not to use your God-given powers selfishly, greedily to make a place for
yourself in the earth; no, you want now to consecrate every entrusted talent of means and
ability, having yourself under the influence and guidance of the Holy Spirit. Not a word
is to be spoken unadvisedly, to stir up the elements of opposition; not an action entered
into to create any deeper enmity than exists in the hearts of the enemies of truth; and,
moving with well-balanced minds, holding aloft the banner of truth, grace from God will be
given, wisdom will be imparted, and angels of God will be commissioned to minister unto
all who walk in humility of mind, trustingly accepting the truth as it is revealed,
standing by their colours, but not creating persecution by unwise actions, but moving in
the footsteps of Jesus. "Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of
his." PH084 20
The people go to church, listen to the sermon, pay their tithes, make their offerings,
and do very little else. And why?--Because the ministers do not open their plans to the
people, soliciting the benefit of their advice and counsel in planning and their help in
executing the plans that they have had a part in forming.
Neither Conference officer nor minister has a call from God to indulge distrust of
God's power to use every individual who is considered a worthy member of the church. This
cautiousness, so-called, is retarding almost every line of the Lord's work. God can and
will use those who have not had a thorough education in the schools of men. A doubt of his
power to do this is manifest unbelief; it is limiting the Omnipotent power of the One with
whom nothing is impossible. O for less of this unsanctified, distrustful caution! It
leaves so many forces of the church unused; it closes up the way so that the Holy Spirit
cannot use men; it keeps in idleness those who are willing and anxious to labour in
Christ's lines; it discourages many from entering the work who would become efficient
labourers together with God if they were given a fair chance.... It is the lack of
spiritual exercise that makes church-members so weak and inefficient; but again I would
ask, Who is to blame for the state of things that now exists?
God has given "to every man his work." Why is it that ministers and
Conference officers do not recognise this fact? Why do they not manifest their
appreciation of the help that individual members of the church could give? Let
church-members awake. Let them take hold and help to stay up the hands of the ministers
and the workers, pushing forward the interests of the cause. There must be no measuring of
talent by comparison. If a man exercises faith, and walks humbly with his God, he may have
little education, he may be accounted a weak man, yet he can fill his appointed place as
well as the man who has the finest education. He who yields himself most unreservedly to
the influence of the Holy Spirit is best qualified to do acceptable service for the
Master. God will inspire men who do not occupy responsible positions to work for him. If
ministers and men in positions of authority will get out of the way, and let the Holy
Spirit move upon the minds of the lay brethren, God will direct them what to do for the
honour of his name. Let men have freedom to carry out that which the Holy Spirit
indicates. Do not put the shackles upon humble men whom God would use. If those who now
occupy positions of responsibility had been kept at one class of work year after year,
their talents would not have developed, and they would not have been qualified for the
positions they hold; and yet they make no special effort to test and develop the talents
of those newly come into the faith.
Women who are willing to consecrate some of their time to the service of the Lord
should be appointed to visit the sick, look after the young, and minister to the
necessities of the poor. They should be set apart to this work by prayer and laying on of
hands. In some cases they will need to counsel with the church officers or the minister;
but if they are devoted women, maintaining a vital connection with God, they will be a
power for good in the church. This is another means of strengthening and building up the
church. We need to branch out more in our methods of labour. Not a hand should be bound,
not a soul discouraged, not a voice should be hushed; let every individual labour,
privately or publicly, to help forward this grand work. Place the burdens upon men and
women of the church, that they may grow by reason of the exercise, and thus become
effective agents in the hand of the Lord for the enlightenment of those who sit in
darkness. RH JUL.09,1895
There is a wide difference between what God has given men capacity to become, and the
degree of excellence to which they actually attain. If it were considered a duty to
cultivate all our powers to the fullest extent, they could be continually increasing. The
Bible teaches men to act from principle; and whenever we successfully resist evil
influence, we are strengthening that principle which has been assailed. The mere
possession of talent is no guarantee of usefulness or happiness in life. Right principles
are the only basis of true success. RH SEP.25,1883
God has endowed men with reason and with intellectual faculties, but if these are
untrained, left uncultivated, men will become like the savage heathen. The mind must be
cultivated, and it is necessary that teachers present line upon line and precept upon
precept, guiding and training the free-will moral agent so that he shall understand what
it is to co-operate with God. ST FEB.12,1894
Self must die. All success and honour must be accredited to Him who has died that we
might live. Christ must be inscribed upon our banners. How slow we are to understand that
God requires the service of our whole heart, an unreserved consecration of all the powers
of our being. He claims all there is of us. All that mortal man can render of service in
any direction, must be devoted to the work of Christ, if we would meet the requirement of
God.
[b.9]Your talent has been intrusted to you by the Lord, and you will be held
responsible for its employment and improvement. It is the design of the Giver that it
shall be used in accordance with his divine will. We are not only to work out our own
salvation, but we are to love our fellow-men as we love ourselves. We must manifest the
glory of God. This is the high aim of our existence....
[c.5]If we remain in ignorance, we have no one to blame but ourselves. If we put to the
stretch every power, and task every ability to the utmost, with an eye single to the glory
of God, we shall not fail of doing a valuable work for God....
[265a.1]There are powers within us that are paralysed through sin, that need the
vivifying influence of the grace of Christ, that they may be restored. Almighty power from
the Life-giver must quicken them to life, and rouse them to action....
[a.4]God has given to every man some ability to use in his service, and it is God's
design that it should be employed to his glory and man's good. ST NOV.30,1888
Christ has purchased all your capabilities and talents. Why not give him that which is
his own. Your intellect is God's properly [sic], made to be used for his service and
glory. Your affections belong to God, and he demands them as his right. Give him your
talents, your best and sharpest thoughts; for they are the purchase of his own blood....
Dedicate yourself to his service in a precious offering; and as you give all to Jesus,
your heaven will begin upon earth; for as long as you keep all on the altar, Christ is
yours, heaven is yours, eternal life is yours. All things are yours, and ye are Christ's,
and Christ is God's....
[c.2]We are to be constantly looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith,
and if we live thus in dependence upon him, the Holy Spirit will bring to our remembrance
all things whatsoever he has spoken unto us, and will sanctify every faculty, and keep us
reminded of our daily and hourly dependence upon our Heavenly Father's care, wisdom, love,
and guardianship. ST SEP.25,1893
God has given us power and ability to improve to the best account in his service. He
has made it possible for us to lay hold of the arm of infinite power that we may be strong
in his might. But with all these great gifts and superior privileges within our reach, why
are we content to be inefficient in his service....
[319A.5]All our powers are the gift of God. He has endowed us with reason, and he
intends that we shall use this power that we may understand our situation and glorify
him....
[A.7]The Lord desires that we should do our best. He desires us to so exert the powers
of mind that he has given us that we may reach the high standard of the law of God. He
wants us to keep his law as the apple of our eye.... We are Christ's property. Says the
apostle [1 Cor 6:19F quoted.] ST SEP.9,1889
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