There’s a violin, nicknamed the Messiah, which is believed to have been made in 1716 by the master violin maker Stradivarius. The violin is famous for being a beautiful example of Stradivarius’ work. Over the years, it has been bought by collector after collector, who valued it for its beauty, quality, and workmanship. One of its owners seemed to be especially protective over it, and never even let anyone see it. But the violin has hardly ever been played. Its creator designed it to make music, but it has never fulfilled its true purpose. It’s never had the chance to bring joy through its music. And we can be like that violin. God gives each one of us gifts and talents, and He expects us to use them. We might be protective over our gifts, waiting for something ‘worthwhile’ to use them for. We might think that we’re not ready to use them yet, or that other people with the same gifts can do them better than we can, so we hide them. But if we wait until we’ve perfected them, we’ll end up not using them at all. Jesus said: ‘You are the salt of the earth. But if the salt loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled underfoot. You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden…let your light shine before others that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven’ (Matthew 5:13-16 NIV). God will hold us accountable for discovering our talents, developing them to the fullest, and using them to glorify Him, further His kingdom, and bless others.

What Now?

Do you have any gifts that you haven’t used? What’s one thing that you could do to use that gift to bless others or bring glory to God? Make a decision to do that thing this week, and then try to use that gift at least once each week.