Practice to WIN! -- Natural Talent

Tuesday, September 21, 2010
Read Matthew 25:14-30 and I Corinthians 12:1-12
By Carmel Jackson

I asked a group of teens I was preparing to coach on the first day of practice, “Do you believe there are people who are just natural athletes?” They all answered yes. Then I asked them to tell me how naturals were different from others. Some of their comments were that naturals had gifted ability and were able to play better than others from the start.

I responded, “So you’re telling me they didn’t have to practice to have this ability. They were born with it?” They replied, yes! I then asked, “Do you know someone who is a natural that never had to practice to be the best?” They all looked at me and said no! To be the best even a natural would have to practice. Do you believe in natural talent? Whether it is physical, musical, mental, etc..? Does God give some of us more ability than others from birth?

Applying the Truth as an Individual
After reading the passage, does God give each of us talents?
Does He give us all the same amount?
Can someone lose a talent, if so how?
Can someone gain more talents, if so how?

God does give natural talent or ability. He gives one or many. The clincher is you must use the talent or it will be taken away. Use equals practice! I don’t know about you, but I hate the thought of losing any talent that God has given me.

Applying the truth as a Church
Whose responsibility is it to find out what your gifts are?
Do you know what your gift or gifts are?
Are you using them?
Does God want to bless you with more?

The blessings are deeper and wider than you can image. I challenge you to find out what God wants you to be doing in His church today! The key to getting started! As Hebrews 12: 1-2 says, “We must lay aside every weight, and sin which so easily ensnares us, and run with endurance the race that is set before us looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith.”