GIFTED OR TALENTED
Written By: Rev. Rodney Teal - NuthinButGospel.com Staff Writer
Are You "Gifted" or Are You "Talented"?
Websters on-line dictionary traces the etymology of "talent" from ancient times and first defines it as a unit of measure or money. The 4th definition seems most appropriate to the question at hand and it is as follows: "a special often creative or artistic aptitude . . . ABILITY."
"Gift" is defined as
1 : a notable capacity, talent, or endowment
2 : something voluntarily transferred by one person to another without compensation
The first definition seems synonymous with "talent." (I guess that's pretty obvious since the word "talent" is used to define gift in definition 1.) However the second definition holds out hope that there may be a meaningful shade of difference in the meanings of "talent" and "gift".
While the creative/artistic ability that a musician (or singer or minister of music, etc.) possesses is the focus of both "talent" and "gift," use of the word "gift" as a descriptor of that which is possessed forces one to focus on an important element that is missing from "talent": namely, the source of the ability to which one refer.
When we, as musicians, treat our ability as a "gift" we are implicitly recognizing that it – the music in us – was voluntarily transferred from One Person (God) to another (the musician) without compensation (i.e., no charge). God put music in you and in me and did not charge us for it! I have talent, but I ought to recognize that my talent is a "gift." More specifically it is God's gift to me. And if God gave it to me, then I am responsible to God for how God's gift is used.
The "Parable of the Talents" (ref. Matthew 25) is instructive as to what God expects us to do with the "gift" that God has given. It seems more than providential that Christ referred to "talents" (units of money in the parable) which were voluntarily transferred from the master to the servant without compensation (i.e., the servant did not have to pay the master to get the talents.) Take a moment to read Matthew 25.
The bottom line is this: God expects us to give back more to God than God "gifted" to us. God gives to us "according to [our] several ability." That means some of us have a greater capacity to do more than others. Let me make it unmistakably clear. I can practice piano all I want, but I'll never be a virtuoso akin to A. Jeffrey LaValley. However, that doesn't mean I'm not supposed to practice. God is not holding me to Jeffrey's standard. God is holding me to my standard. And God will be upset with me, if I don't read music any better now than I did 5 years ago; if I can only play in the same keys that I did 3 years ago; if I know only the same songs this year as I did last year. My responsibility is to the Master, who gave me the gift for free!
As musicians, singers, etc. we are better off when we learn to focus on the "gift." Why? Because so doing requires that we focus on the Giver, Who gave it at no cost to us. Treat the gift as God's investment in you and add to it so that you are not reprimanded for being a "wicked and slothful" servant.
Be blessed as you serve. I remain,
Rev. Dr. Rodney A. Teal
