Biblically, a talent has nothing to do with ability, skill, or aptitude. The Parable of the Talents goes far beyond making use of skills and abilities.

We are never to forget that, whatever responsibility has been entrusted to us, we really have to please our Lord regardless of the circumstances we must deal with.

God expects a return on the investment He has placed in us. Doing nothing with our abilities is a grievous abuse of this trust.

After we are baptized and become members of God's church, we inherit a new primary job and responsibility: to become a steward.

Some may feel that they have not been gifted by God, yet God has gifted every saint. All gifts are from above and are meant to be mutually complementary.

The Parable of the Talents teaches the need for diligence in using the gifts of God. God expects us to use our talents to His glory and in the service of others.

God is actively involved in the lives of His people. The command to love our God with all our hearts and our neighbors as ourselves cannot be carried out passively.

Without well-defined plans, projects become quickly derailed. Both time and energy are wasted in the absence of carefully established goals.

Developing the daily habit of meditation on God's Word can displace that deadly carnal nature, replacing it with Godly character—the mind of God.

Jesus kept the two great commandments flawlessly, providing us an example. These two great commandments are where most of our self-examination should revolve.

Terrorism is commonplace today, yet we may be causing just as much destruction spiritually as the average terrorist through negligence and passivity.

To watch world events but to ignore our spiritual progress and overcoming is a foolish and futile exercise. We need to watch how we conduct ourselves.

A curious phenomenon ties together several biblical stories: God makes a judgment and divides His people into two groups, often splitting them down the middle!

Profit from life is produced by work, requiring sacrifices of time and energy. We have been created for the very purpose of doing good works.

We have been warned to keep alert, watching for the return of our Savior, not living in careless ease. We should be sobered by the degenerating state of the world.

Though Christ has warned us to be aware of the times, we need to be more alert to how we are living. End-time events should lead us to repentance.

During these times of intense distress and tribulation, God expects that we use our memories to reflect upon His gifts, promises, and rewards.

Christ's trial and crucifixion were not historical accidents; rather, God prophesied both events in minute detail in Old Testament scriptures.

The pillars of the Parthenon were fitted together in sections. It is impossible for these pillars to stand without a solid foundation.

The church of the Philadelphians has a 'little strength', suggesting that Christ commends them for being 'faithful in little' and will reward them with much.

God had each of us in mind before the foundation of the world, realizing how we would develop spiritually, reaching our ultimate destination in His family.

In the letters to the seven churches, Scripture foresees that a dearth of steadfastness marks the time of the end, but Christians are urged to hold fast.

Solomon compromised with God's law because his heart was turned to idolatry through his multiple marriages, diluting his early gift of wisdom and understanding

Trials define who we are by placing choices before us, forcing us to have faith in God. Character is built by making right, though difficult, choices.

We have the obligation to bear spiritual fruit, heeding the lessons of the cursing of the fig tree, and the parables of the barren fig tree and the talents.

God has gifted all His called-out ones, expecting them to use those gifts with the pillars of godly wisdom for the edification of the Body of Christ.

The three parables in Matthew 25 (The Ten Virgins, The Talents and The Sheep and Goats) all focus on the importance of spiritual preparedness.

If God's Law has not been written in our hearts, the corporate entity in which we find ourselves will not save us from the wrong side of the judgmental cut.

Because a brain with a positive attitude has higher levels of dopamine and serotonin, it is more successful and productive.

Any prophetic speculation, accurate or not, is useless unless it is promotes diligence in living godly lives, eagerly preparing for the return of Christ.

The Beast is a reality, and it is coming to pass in the scope of globalism. Satan has a vast reservoir of people he can work through; we used to be a part of it.

Like businessmen reviewing plans, making forecasts, and anticipating accountability, God expects us to define and follow through on spiritual objectives.

We are called to fulfill our job as a steward, entrusted with managing, protecting, preserving, attending, and increasing what has been entrusted to us.

Both we and God will get more out of our holy day offerings (Deuteronomy 16:16-17), especially spiritually, when we plan our giving.

Jesus, Joseph, David, and Abraham all endured considerable trials before they qualified for their offices. We must make our calling and election sure.

Laodiceanism is the attitude that dominates the end time. It is a subtle form of worldliness that has infected the church, and Christ warns against it strongly.