It is only Week 1 of the NFL season and we are already hearing cliché responses when a team did not play up to expectations. From the Head Coach shouting, “Leadership starts at the top,” to Coordinators exclaiming, “Accountability starts with me,” to the Quarterbacks saying, “Execution starts with being prepared” and revealing “we have to be better prepared going forward” or expressing “I need to be better in that situation going forward.”
These cliches remind of a unique quote from retired College Football Hall of Fame coach and motivational speaker Lou Houltz who once said, “Ability is what you’re capable of doing. Motivation determines what you do. Attitude determines how well you do it”.
In Matthew 25:14-30, with his disciples huddled around him, Jesus tells the “Parable of the Loaned Money”, where the master has divided the money (talents) among his servants according to their abilities. In this parable, no one servant received more or less than what he could handle so that if he failed in his assignment, his excuse could not be that he was overwhelmed, because he had the “ability” to complete the task, but instead, failure could only come from laziness, which is a “lack of motivation” or hatred toward the master, “the wrong attitude”.
The “talents” represent any kind of resource we are given. God gives us time, skills, and other gifts according to our abilities, and He expects us to use them and invest them wisely until He returns.
Romans 12: 6-8 “6We have different gifts, according to the grace given to each of us. If your gift is prophesying, then prophesy in accordance with your faith; 7if it is serving, then serve; if it is teaching, then teach; 8if it is to encourage, then give encouragement; if it is giving, then give generously; if it is to lead, do it diligently; if it is to show mercy, do it cheerfully.”
Look at this list of “talents” and imagine the kind of people who would have each gift. Prophets I would expect are bold and good communicators. Servers are faithful and loyal. Teachers are organized and clear thinkers. Encouragers know how to motivate others. Givers are generous. Leaders are trusting and good managers. Those who show mercy are caring and probably enjoy giving their time to others.
It would be difficult for one person to embody all of these gifts. God gives us these gifts so we can encourage one another and build each other up, and build up His church.
We must not make excuses to avoid doing what God has called us to do. If God truly is our Master, we should not just serve Christ to our abilities, but also have a motivation to obey willingly and an attitude of “I need to be better in that situation going forward.”
