Growing In Godliness Blog
“The Power of One Talent”
Categories: Author: Mark McCrary, Giving, Good Works, ServiceThe Power of One Talent
By Mark McCrary
In the recent Olympic Games, Stephen Nedoroscik became an instant world-wide sensation when he helped the US men’s gymnastics team win a bronze medal for his pommel horse routine. Nedoroscik’s only talent is the pommel horse– so much so, he’s known as ”Steve the pommel horse guy.”
It is unusual for one team member to do only one routine. As a young man, Nedoroscik loved gymnastics, but struggled with other routines– except the pommel horse. So, he focused on it. And focused on it. And focused on it.
In Matthew 25:14-30, Jesus told the parable of the talents. You will remember, there was the five-talent man, the two-talent man and lastly, the one-talent man. In the end, the one talent man was condemned, not because he had only one talent, but because he did not use his talent.
Some Christians have five (or more) talents. They are so active and so good at so many things. Others may only have two, or even one. If you feel like you are a one talent Christian, that’s okay. There’s nothing wrong with having one talent. In fact, there’s great power in just having one talent. Jesus valued simple service, “And whoever gives one of these little ones even a cup of cold water because he is a disciple, truly, I say to you, he will by no means lose his reward” (Matthew 10:42). Just a cup of cold water is valuable.
You likely have more than one talent to be used in service to God, but if you really think you only have one, learn two lessons. First from the one talent man: don’t hide it. Second, from Steve Nedoroscik: do that one thing well. Do it over and over and over again for and to God’s glory.
