One of the things I love about having young adult children is that they are tuned in to the lingo of the day. So, I get to use these trendy phrases from time to time and pretend that I’m a cool mom, a title I have never held.
The other day, my daughter said something that literally made me fall over laughing. I’m talking the crying/laughing emoji! We were discussing a challenge she was having with her car insurance company and the rep who was not being helpful.
“He was as useful as a white crayon.”
At first, I didn’t get it (which is why I’m not a cool mom!), but when she explained it to me, I had to pick myself up off the floor from laughing so hard.
Imagine if you will a coloring book. The pages are typically white or cream colored. If you were to color any part of the picture with a white crayon, you wouldn’t be able to see it.
It does nothing. It adds no value. It is eclipsed by the other vibrant colors you chose to use. Take a look at this picture I colored, and you’ll understand.
Recently, I was listening to a podcast that spoke about how to be a good steward of the gifts and talents we have been given. After listening to it and then hearing this phrase from my daughter, it caused me to stop and think:
- Are we using our gifts the way God intended?
- Are we adding value to other’s lives, helping them to be better?
- Are we misusing or worse, not using them at all?
This very concept is referred to in the Bible as the parable of the talents, which is in Matthew 25:14-30. If you’re not familiar with it, I’ll give you a quick summary. (To read the full parable, click here.)
(Note: while the word “talents” is a denomination of money in the parable, sometimes it is also interpreted as our gifts, our actual talents.)
A man (head of a household) is going out on a journey and entrusts his servants/employees with varying amounts of money. One gets five, one gets three, one gets one. The servants who got five and three talents invested them and doubled their value.
When the owner returned, he was pleased as punch with these two employees. However, the servant who got one talent, chose to bury his in the ground. As you might expect, the owner was not happy.
This employee claimed that he buried his talent because he was afraid. He figured if he did nothing with it, at least he wouldn’t have lost anything.
My friends, this servant was being a white crayon. He made no use of his talent at all. He hid it in the ground because he was afraid. Fear cost him his reward. Fear cost him the favor of his boss.
And you know what? I bet it also cost him any future success because he’s already proven to himself that his talent is not useful or valuable enough.
Here’s what I’m learning:
In His infinite wisdom and grace, God has blessed every person with at least one talent. He wants us to use these talents to serve others, to bless others, to be a useful and productive member of His family.
God does not want us to be white crayons. We were meant to be lights in this dark world, shining God’s love and grace to all. When we use our gifts and talents in the way God wants us to, we can make a huge impact.
“Nor do they light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a lampstand, and it gives light to all who are in the house. Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven.” (Matthew 5:15-17 NKJV)
This week, I’d like to encourage you to examine how you are using your gifts and talents. Are they being hidden? Or are they out in full force coloring people’s lives?