Talents not inherited may be acquired! Men of meager capabilities, but with large capacities, may become multitalented giants in the proclamation of truth. This is the burden of 1 Corinthians 12:31. The text, though brief, literally thunders encouragement to the self-pitying, one-talented man of God. Poor past performances mean nothing here. The text ignores a discouraging present situation, however dark. It is pregnant with hope, light, and promise for the future. The minister is unchained and unhampered by talent limitations in his service for God. What he needs, but doesn't have, will be supplied if he refuses to settle for just being himself. "Covet earnestly the best gifts."
It is obvious to even the casual reader of this passage that all men are not by nature similarly endowed. "Are all apostles? are all prophets? are all teachers? are all workers of miracles?" The one answer to all these questions is an obvious No. "And God hath set some in the church, first apostles, secondarily prophets, thirdly teachers, after that miracles, then gifts of healings, helps, governments, diversities of tongues." And so God sends men forth, each clad in his individual armor.
Nevertheless, the words of our text clearly indicate that the minister is not forever limited to the few talents or gifts with which he begins his ministry. "Covet earnestly the best gifts." Does one covet what he already possesses? Rather, to covet is to earnestly seek that which one does not possess, but earnestly desires. Gifts not originally bestowed may be acquired. And the Dispenser of spiritual talents is willing to equip any man for the performance of any Heaven-assigned responsibility.
As the will of man cooperates with the will of God, it becomes omnipotent. Whatever is to be done at His command may be accomplished in His strength. All His biddings are enablings.—Christ's Object Lessons, p. 333. (Italics supplied.)
The Lord Jesus is our efficiency in all things; His Spirit is to be our inspiration; . . . We may draw upon His fulness, and receive of that grace which has no limit.—Gospel Workers, p. 19. (Italics supplied.)
By the grace of Christ the apostles were made what they were.—Testimonies, vol. 7, p. 32. (Italics supplied.)
Of course it is only human that men should categorize, pigeonhole, and classify material things. However, this cannot be practiced on human beings without negative consequences. Many a potential soul winner has been turned aside by the remark, "Oh, he'll never be an evangelist—he isn't 'cut out' for that type of work." Earlier extravagances in finance have discouraged some men from trying to manage their affairs properly. "He doesn't know how to handle money—he'll never make a treasurer," is the gloomy forecast that supposedly foredooms all future efforts at deliverance from the company of "spendthrifts." "He's a good evangelist, but has to be kept on the go, since he doesn't have the pastoral touch. He just doesn't wear well."
Our text argues that though these things may be presently true, they need not be so forever. Unlike the "mark of Cain," the stigma can be lifted. Committees may opinionate, legislate, and evaluate, but they cannot properly assess the spiritual potential of any man. Year after year apparently unpromising prospects are producing amazing results. "I didn't know it was in him," is the usual expression that greets the surprise performance. The truth is, it probably wasn't in him; he was one of those who coveted earnestly, and sought unceasingly, through prayer and fasting, the best gifts. Thus they were acquired. Unused gifts are often lost. Similarly, gifts not possessed but persistently sought are often supplied. To be satisfied with less is high treason against the Giver of every good and perfect gift.
More surprising than any outside attempt to prescribe limitations on other men is the satisfaction of man with himself. "Everyone can't be a Moody or a Spurgeon," he proclaims defensively. In this he is probably correct, but only because most men are satisfied with lower attainments. If our knees "smite together" in the presence of men who baptize a few hundred believers a year, where will God find the men who will match Peter's three-thousandsoul feat at Pentecost?
Self-satisfaction Stultifies
Recognition of one's natural limitations is one thing, but lack of confidence in God's willingness and ability to bestow His gifts upon His servants is quite another. "Desire spiritual gifts," counsels the apostle (I Cor. 14:1). What greater deterrent to self-satisfaction could be found anywhere? Good men become better, using the gifts that they possess and seeking others yet unobtained. Men are limited only as they accept the boundaries set by their associates, or as they flounder amid the lowlands of self-limited vision.
As with any world organization, the minister has as part of his responsibility certain business and promotional duties. Financial campaigns are a must on any minister's calendar. Without them the gospel would never reach the ends of the earth. Be it remembered, however, that by these the minister is tested as a worker. The test of the minister as a preacher is the winning of souls. Sad to say, some potentially fruitful men are satisfied with being good workers. They are the "play it safers." "No risks—no failures," they say. But a good preacher is more than this. He does all that the worker does, and more; he personally leads men to Christ. His specialty is flesh and blood—not dollars and cents. He is not content to stand "by the stuff," for he realizes that if everybody did this there would soon be no "stuff" to stand by. He is a kingdom builder, happiest when wet from the waist down in baptismal waters. With or without position, no man is greater. Our Lord's parable of the talents affords ample support for our text. The men who used what they had, received more. The man who was satisfied with what he had, came into condemnation. This amounts to a burial of one's spiritual possibilities.
To seek gifts not possessed involves a denial of intellect and a belief in the supernatural. Who would have believed Peter capable of walking on water, or Elijah of shutting up the heavens? Who could have predicted Joshua's conquest of Jericho, or David's victory over Goliath? And had the committee needed to decide on a general to rout the Midianite hordes, Gideon, the backwoods Israeli farmer, would have been labeled "unsuitable." The fact is, brethren, the Holy Spirit cannot be limited, channeled, or predicted. Consequently, rather ordinary men sometimes find themselves possessed of extraordinary powers, accomplishing the unusual and performing feats for God far above their natural endowments.
For over one hundred years the faithful Adventist clergy has been pounding enemy lines with the truth for this time. Wave after wave of ministers have fallen in battle; but their replacements hold the standard high. An evangelistic "breakthrough" is scheduled for our day. It will be accomplished by men of faith who (I) follow the supernatural, (2) expect the unusual, and (3) attempt the impossible! It will be accomplished by men who dare accept the challenge of the greatest of apostles to "covet earnestly the best gifts."
E. E. C.
