This often is the way it is in life, although not always. The person with the greatest ability and was given the most resources was the most profitable. He was diligent in the use of the things of the Lord.

The individual having the least ability and given the fewest resources, did not use what he was given. He buried his talent.

I may be incorrect, but it seems to me that the Christians who have been given the least are often the ones who do nothing at all. I suppose they figure what they are able to do is not as important as the office of pastor or evangelist, and so they do nothing but attend, sit, and listen.

I sometimes think of the believers who assemble as being an orchestra. The Holy Spirit is the conductor. There are some instruments, such as the violins, that may play most of the time. There may be other instruments, such as a flute or tuba, that play less frequently, depending on the composition.

The point is, when the flute or the tuba is called for in the music, the violin or trumpet cannot fill in. The composer has thought through how he wants the symphony to sound, and each instrument is as important as every other instrument, in this sense.

Each member of the Body of Christ plays a necessary role in the function of the Body, just as in the human body. There are parts of our human body that we never heard of until they cease to operate correctly.

When any believer, no matter how sparsely endowed, does not redeem the time diligently and listen to the Spirit at all times, the entire Body suffers and Christ is displeased.

Those with many talents often are industrious and give the Lord a return on His investment. But those who cannot see how anything they can do is important, are apt to be careless about the Lord's will for their life and not serve in the manner set before them by the Lord. They do not realize if they are diligent with what they have been given, the Lord may entrust them with additional abilities and responsibility.

As we shall see, the consequences of not being diligent with all God has given us can be catastrophic.

To be continued.