“From everyone who has been given much, much will be demanded; and from the one who has been entrusted with much, much more will be asked.”  (Luke 12:48)

Jesus is talking to his disciples about the importance of a servant being watchful and found doing what is expected of him when his master returns.  He says the more responsibility that is given to you, the more that will be expected of you.

This is about our accountability to God for the life, time, talents, responsibilities, resources, and people he has given to us.  As in the Parable of the Talents, the master’s servants were expected to multiply the money that was entrusted to their care, not simply preserve it. (Matthew 25:14-30)

God creates each of us in unique and infinite ways.  No two of us are the same.  He creates each of us with unique physical, intellectual, and spiritual abilities and gifts “to work and take care” of the garden of his creation, and to love and serve him and one another in doing so. (Genesis 2:15)

As a father of five adult children, it is a blessing to see each of them use gifts that God has given them in addition to caring for their respective spouses and children.  To one has been given the gift of serving young people as a campus minister at a major state university.  To another has been given a way to teach history and make it come alive for her students.  To another has been given the compassion and understanding to oversee a special education program in a Catholic high school for students with intellectual and developmental disabilities. 

To another, along with his wife, have been given their special gift to capture unique images of marriage in a wedding photography business.  To our youngest daughter born with Down syndrome, God has given the gifts of purity of heart and love, which she shares in giving hugs to people she greets.   

What’s important is not what gifts God has given to each of us, but that we are fully using the gifts he has entrusted to us for his purpose.  Our goal should be to hear the words of the Father at the end of our time on this earth, “Well done, good and faithful servant!” (Mt. 25:21) 

How are using the gifts God has given to you?