HIDDEN TALENTS by J. H. W.

Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Tuesday, January 6, 1885

FromAdvent Review and Sabbath Herald, Vol. 62, No. 1

HIDDEN TALENTS.

By J. H. W.

We read that the Lord gives talents “to every man according to his several ability.” Matt. 25: 15. It is providential that all have not the same talent, or the same gift, for if they had, there would be but one class of duties performed. The work would become distorted. And all talents are from God. No man has anything which he has not received. On this subject great misapprehension exists.

Often we hear the expression, “If I had the talent of such a brother, I would do nothing but preach,” or, “I would spend all my time writing,” or whatever the brother’s gift seemed to indicate. But the question arises, Has this brother who speaks thus no talent? Has the Lord given nothing to him? Is there no responsibility laid upon him? Is not he also a servant of God?

Yes, he claims to be a servant of God; but he says the Lord has given him no talent which he can use in the cause. He is strong to work; he has good health; his judgment is good on the value of property; he has a taste for good buildings—house and barns; his fences are in good order; his cattle show good keeping; his orchards and lands are productive; his situation and condition indicate that he has said to his soul, “Soul, thou hast much goods laid up for many years; take thine ease.” But he cannot preach; he cannot write; and he sometimes laments, when he reads a good article or hears a good sermon, that the Lord has given him no talent; that he never called him, as he did his more favored brother, to labor in his vineyard.

Now, we can point out more than one mistake in this man’s position. It is to be feared that “the god of this world has blinded his mind,”—that he is deceiving his own soul, perhaps to his eternal ruin.

1. His brother has spent days and nights in anxious toil, with earnest prayer for divine help, to fit himself for his position in the work of God. He has groaned over the desolations of Zion; he has wept over suffering and dying humanity, as Jesus wept over Jerusalem. Perhaps this prosperous, working brother, when he was first converted, had the same feelings of pity for his dying fellow-men; he may have felt the same promptings of the Spirit to devote himself to the work of the gospel; and if he had listened to the call, if he had devoted himself to study and given his days and nights to anxious and fervent prayers for help from above, he, too, might have filled an important place in the gospel work. Such gifts are not given all matured and perfected. They are to be cultivated and improved. If neglected, they go to ruin or are withdrawn. But in such cases the responsibility is not withdrawn with the withdrawal of the gift. It may be that his duty is turned in another direction, or it may be that the responsibility will meet him and overwhelm him in the Judgment.

2. If he never had a call to the gospel work, that does not prove that the Lord has given him no talent and laid upon him no responsibility. He has valuable business qualifications, and these are much needed in the cause of God. Can any reason be given why a business man, who has ability to amass riches, should take the glory to himself, and look upon his wealth as his own, for the use of which he is not to be brought to account? To him, as well as to any other, the words of the scripture are spoken: “For who maketh thee to differ from another? and what hast thou that thou didst not receive? now if thou didst receive it, why dost thou glory as if thou hadst not received it?” 1 Cor. 4: 7. The Lord gave special instruction on this subject to his people of old, and we are assured that these things are “written for our learning” (Rom. 15: 4), and we do well to take heed unto them. To Israel he said, Beware lest “thou say in thine heart, My power and the might of mine hand hath gotten me this wealth. But thou shalt remember the Lord thy God; for it is he that giveth thee power to get wealth.” Deut. 8: 17, 18. Thus we learn that the ability to get wealth, skill in business, is a gift of God; it is a talent bestowed by the Lord, even as the ability to labor in word and doctrine.

3. It is not in the order of God that one should be eased and another burdened. The apostle, who spoke according to the will of God, said it was “by an equality, that now at this time your abundance may be a supply for their want, that their abundance may be a supply for your want, that there may be equality.” 2 Cor. 8: 13, 14. This is just, and God will require it. He who employs his time in laboring to get gain would soon have his heart all engrossed with earthly things if it were not for the ministrations of his brother whom the Lord has called to preach the word; and he who is called to preach and to write (which is the most effective form of preaching) will have his powers cramped if he has to labor under a burden of care and want. Each can minister to the want of the other, and thus there will be equality; they will bear each other’s burdens, and neither be unwisely eased, and neither be overburdened.

4. There never was a time when the cause was in so great need of help, for there never was a time when it was being so greatly extended. Truly, we are doing a great work. The missions in Europe are in much need; missions are being planted all over this land; a mission station has been located in the great World’s Exposition in New Orleans; missionaries will soon be on their way to Australia. There is no lack of means among those who profess to believe that the coming of the Lord is near, even at the door; but there is a lack of means in the hands of those who have to superintend these missions. The laborers are performing their work to great disadvantage. Millions upon millions are in darkness; souls are perishing for lack of knowledge; the long-suffering of God withholds the time of trouble from falling upon us in our unprepared state, and we presume on his mercy, and say in our hearts, “My Lord delayeth his coming.” We fear for many professed “servants” of the Lord; unless they speedily arouse and “awake out of sleep,” that

day will come upon them unawares, and they will not know when their probation is closing. Many have talents which are greatly needed to advance the work, but they are digging and hiding them in the earth. Matt. 25: 18. What answer will they make when they are called to give an account of their stewardship?

It cannot be said, however (and we regret that it cannot), that all who labor in the word are carrying a burden of the cause on their hearts. Some of the ministers “are at ease in Zion.” They are much to be pitied. But we hope the number is small, that there are very few in this condition. And we are happy to know that not all who are “diligent in business,” and prosperous in business, are burying their talents. There are many liberal souls among them, who work with a sincere desire to help on the cause of God. Their toil and their interest will be rewarded. But there are others who profess to believe that the coming of the Lord is near—very near—whose only apparent interest is to lay up treasures on earth. To those, and of those, we speak. Their influence and example are against the truth, both in the church and before the world. The poor and the weak among the believers stumble over their worldliness, and their neighbors are led to believe that there is nothing urgent in the warning of the message while its professed followers show that they love the world and the things of the world. 1 John 2: 15.

For some time there have been prosperous seasons; business has been lively, prices good, and everything prosperous. Now a change seems to be coming. Prices are low; and if with a consumption of the present supply should come failures, we should have “hard times” indeed. One thing is certain: If our faith is correct; if the coming of the Lord is near, then the time is also near when we can “neither buy nor sell,” unless we yield to the exactions of ungodly powers. What will the wealthy do with their goods in that day? “To whom will ye flee for help, and where will ye leave your glory.” Isa. 10: 3.

J. H. W.