Do Not Leave Untouched

"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).

You've seen them: Unopened Barbie dolls, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, Marvel characters, NASCARs, etc. sitting on display, collecting dust. In this world their value remains intact or increases as long as they are left untouched. These gifts are not used for the purpose for which they were designed. The same is true of Christians who never use the gifts God entrusted to them. The Parable of the Talents gives an account of a servant who buried his talent instead of using the gift as his Master intended. The angry Master called the servant slothful and worthless. Then He tossed him into a very unpleasant place (Matthew 25:14-30). The others, who had used their gifts, were told they were good and faithful servants (v.21,23). Compare that Scripture to the Final Judgment Parable, when the King separated the sheep from the goats (v.35-40). Everything the righteous had done for others He said they had done for Him and He told them, "Come...inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world" (v. 34). We serve God by serving others. Slothful and wicked or good and faithful? God's gifts do not increase in value if left untouched.