America’s Got Talent?

American Idol?

Susan Boyle?

Scott McCreery?

Arthur Godfrey’s Talent Scouts?

Most everyone reading this, has seen the first two TV shows and most know the two talent show contestants; but, how many remember the last radio and TV show from the 40 - 50’s, the original talent show.  Contestants included: Pat Boone, The Chordettes, The McGuire Sisters, Tony Bennett, The Blackwood Brothers, Lenny Bruce, Roy Clark, Rosemary Clooney, Ken Berry, Florian ZaBach, Wally Cox, Vic Damone, The Diamonds, Eddie Fisher, Connie Francis, Don Knotts, Steve Lawrence, and Patsy Cline.  Two who auditioned; but, were not chosen were, Buddy Holly and Elvis Presley.  Well, no one’s perfect.

When I say “talent”, most readers do not think of the original talent scout in Matthew 5:

“A man going off on an extended trip, called his servants together and delegated responsibilities.

¹⁵To one he gave five thousand dollars, to another two thousand, to a third one thousand, depending on their abilities. Then he left. ¹⁶Right off, the first servant went to work and doubled his master’s investment. ¹⁷The second did the same. ¹⁸But the man with the single thousand dug a hole and carefully buried his master’s money.

¹⁹“After a long absence, the master of those three servants came back and settled up with them.

²⁰The one given five thousand dollars showed him how he had doubled his investment. ²¹His master commended him: ‘Good work! You did your job well. From now on be my partner.’

²²“The servant with the two thousand showed how he also had doubled his master’s investment.

²³His master commended him: ‘Good work! You did your job well. From now on be my partner.’

²⁴“The servant given one thousand said, ‘Master, I know you have high standards and hate careless ways, that you demand the best and make no allowances for error.

²⁵I was afraid I might disappoint you, so I found a good hiding place and secured your money. Here it is, safe and sound down to the last cent.’

²⁶“The master was furious. ‘That’s a terrible way to live! It’s criminal to live cautiously like that! If you knew I was after the best, why did you do less than the least?

²⁷The least you could have done would have been to invest the sum with the bankers, where at least I would have gotten a little interest.

^28- “‘Take the thousand and give it to the one who risked the most. And get rid of this “play-it-safe” who won’t go out on a limb.

³⁰Throw him out into utter darkness.’ ”  The Message

Is this a story about “capitalism”? 

Is this a story about material things?

Is this a story about “abilities”?

It may be any or all of these; but I don’t think that it is just that.  I think it is much, much more.  I think it is about what God has given to His body, the church.  I think it is about what our work is.

“I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it. ¹⁹And I will give unto thee the keys of the kingdom of heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.”  Matt. 16: 18 -19

“And when he had called unto him his twelve disciples, he gave them power against unclean spirits, to cast them out, and to heal all manner of sickness and all manner of disease.”  Matt. 10:1

“And he ordained twelve, that they should be with him, and that he might send them forth to preach, ¹⁵And to have power to heal sicknesses, and to cast out devils”  Mark 3:14

“And he called unto him the twelve, and began to send them forth by two and two; and gave them power over unclean spirits.” Mark 6:7

^“15Then he said, “Go into the world. Go everywhere and announce the Message of God’s good news to one and all. ¹⁶Whoever believes and is baptized is saved; whoever refuses to believe is damned.

¹⁷“These are some of the signs that will accompany believers: They will throw out demons in my name, they will speak in new tongues,

¹⁸they will take snakes in their hands, they will drink poison and not be hurt, they will lay hands on the sick and make them well.” The Message, Mark 16:14

When is the last time you “took a chance”, laid it all on the line; or, are we like the servant who buried his talent: And get rid of this “play-it-safe” who won’t go out on a limb.  Throw him out into utter darkness.’ ”  The Message, Matt. 5:29

Has God taken away His power from the church in America because it has buried it, denied it’s existence through “dis-use”?  Even our physical bodies atrophy when we become “couch potatoes”, how much more is this true of what God has given us to use for His glory?