Lake Deaton at Home

My wife, Michele, and I have been members since shortly after our arrival in Florida in the summer of 2015.  I served 27 years of active duty and 13 years as a civilian in the U.S. Coast Guard.

Risk-Taking Mission and Service from Five Practices of Fruitful Congregations

Matthew 25:14-30

As we age, it is very common to be less trustful of our abilities to do things as we once did.  Our hearing and eyesight aren’t what they used to be.  Our muscles ache and our joints are stiff with arthritis.  Our minds aren’t as sharp. We begin to lose trust in our own abilities. It is easy to want to sit back and let others carry on.  After all, we were the ones that used to carry the load, now it’s time for someone else to step up.

However, the well-known parable of the “talents” tells us what is expected of us.  We are all granted valuable gifts and skills.  God expects us to use what we have been given to love and serve others.  That expectation does not stop when we reach at a certain age. As the scripture verse indicates, our Lord will not be pleased with those who are given much yet let those gifts be “buried” to languish and be unused.

Since coming to this area nearly 6 years ago, I have come to appreciate that we are surrounded by a multitude of talented and experienced people from a wide variety of professions and interests. In our church, here at Lake Deaton, I am inspired by so many who freely share their gifts and talents as the Lord asks us. Just think of the untapped potential that exists within our church community and in our surrounding neighborhoods. If only we could “unbury” those gifts and talents and put them to God’s work, one could only image what a difference it would make our lives and the lives of those around us.

Discussion Questions:

1. What gifts or talents has God given you?
2. What are you doing with your gifts or talents to love and to serve others?
3. What talents and gifts have you “buried” instead of investing them in the Lord’s work?

Prayer: Dear Lord, give us the courage to use our gifts and talents in risk-taking mission and service.  Put in all of our hearts the desire to love and serve those around us in your holy name.  May our collective talents meld into a powerful force for enlarging your kingdom on earth.