The abilities that God has blessed you with is the amount of application that you are to apply to the work that He has set before you, no more no less. It sounds simple enough, for no man can do more than what he is able to do, but most will do much less. Generally, we must be pushed, there must be a very pressing reason to pursue what we are enabled to do, it requires a circumstance that we see as valuable to us, and usually only to ourselves. That which is either not enticing, not interesting, or of little value to our personal lives, we put little effort into, perseverance outside of those statements is not a character trait of human beings. “So likewise ye, when ye shall have done all those things which are commanded you, say, We are unprofitable servants: we have done that which was our duty to do.” (Luke 17:10)
It is the attribute we possess that is the formative reason behind our actions, our emotional state towards the deed at hand, is it needful, is it required, pleasurable, is it done grudgingly because it is expected of us? There is of course the fear factor that must be added into this equation, the possible consequences if the task is not completed, or perhaps if it is not done with the right attitude, we sometimes believe that we are to express the emotion of happiness to all who cross our paths, even if we are not having the best day of our lives. It is a game we play with ourselves, not only in public, but in private, this ideology that Christians are to always have a smile on their face, an uplifting happy countenance to all they meet, the perception that everything is alright all the time.
The abilities that the Lord has blessed you with are of absolutely no value if you do not apply them, but if you only apply them in a way that benefits yourself, they will serve no purpose, if you withhold them from others for the glory of God, it is a sin, (James 4:17) and if you only perform them grudgingly then they are of no value whatsoever. (Phil. 2:14) What we have been blessed to be able to do, we are to do for the glory of God, if you feel good while doing these things that He has set before you, all the better, but feelings have very little to do with faith in the realm of actions, we are commanded, so we do. “What doth the LORD thy God require of thee, but to fear the LORD thy God, to walk in all his ways, and to love him, and to serve the LORD thy God with all thy heart and with all thy soul.” (Deut. 10:12) There is no emotional context in this verse from the Lord, it matters very little to Almighty God how His servants feel about what He has commanded them to do, you have received orders, fulfill them. “Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature.” (Mark 16:15) Not when it is convenient for you, not when you get up the nerve to do so, go and do what you have been told to do when you are told to do it.
An employer does not give praise or extra money in the paystub of his employees when they have performed the tasks that have been set before them, they have done that which was required of them, it matters little to Him if they are happy or discontent in the performance of these duties, as long as they are performed to the standards He has set, that is all that matters. Those who will not are relieved of those duties, they are “Cast forth as a branch, and is withered; and men gather them, and cast them into the fire, and they are burned.” (John 15:6) Enthusiasm for the task is looked on with favor, but it is not required.
Who than is profitable in the eyes of the Lord, upon whom does His favor shine, who is it that receives more tasks to accomplish. Those who have set their hearts to do all that He asks with joy in their heart, those who care little of the consequences of their actions and words concerning their own lives, those who realize that all they do and say is meant for the glory of God, those who have died to self. Those who are profitable have not only completed and continue to accomplish these most basic precepts set in His Word, but have endeavored to seek out more, never for their own self-interest, never for an emotionally uplifting moment, but only for His glory, their sole purpose in life is to lift up the name of Jesus.
You may not be forsaking the assembling of yourselves together, (Heb. 10:25) good, but are you preaching the Word to all you meet, you may be a good steward of all you possess, (Luke 12:42) but are you leading people to the cross. I will ask the question again, how many people did you meet today that asked you about your faith, and how many individuals did you ask today about theirs? For every season, God has His man, so to speak, Moses for his time, Paul for his, but He is no respecter of persons (Romans 2:11) no matter who you are, you are loved, but you are a servant, and servants are to serve to the best of the abilities that they have been given, if you feel good about it great, if not, it matters little. Employers do not ask their employees to do the work, they are told to, or they can feel free to go someplace else to work.
We are slaves to Christ, (Romans 6:22) slaves do what they are told to do, it is only by His grace and mercy that He has decided to give His slaves free will in these matters, yet there will come a day when all will be held accountable for their actions or inactions. There will be no accepted excuses, there will be no contending with the Lord on that day, you will be known as you are known (1 Cor. 13:12) and many I am sorry to say will not like the truth about themselves and who they were.
The life that we live for Him is the life we have chosen to live, God forces His will upon none, you are accountable for the abilities you have been given. They are placed before you, but they are never forced upon you, what you do with them is completely at your discretion, along with the reasons why.
