Everyone has something to give

Read Matthew 25:14-30

It's known by a few different names. Many call it "The Parable of the Talents," to others it's the "Parable of the three Servants," but by any name, it's a great story of God given gifts and responsibility.

We're all different. Some are more different than others, but that's what makes us individuals. We all bring something to the table. Working with people who are looked down upon as "disabled" by the world at large gives one a perspective to observe just how true this is. Over the years, I've ministered to dozens of folks from all levels of ability and I've found that those who've ministered the most to my own heart would probably fall into the category of "the least of these."

I can't really say how it is in the rest of the world, but here in the United States, there is an immense focus on finding out what's wrong with people and trying to fix them. There's a label for every kind of behavior or mental condition imaginable. I'm not discounting or dismissing mental illness, not at all, but it seems some in the mental health field go a little overboard. A therapist once told me that everyone has at least a touch of personality disorder, which begs the question: if everyone has something, how is it a disorder? Why not just call it a personality and be done with it?

Looking into the scriptures we find a different perspective from that of the world of psychology. We find a perspective that everyone has a gift. Everyone has an ability that they can give back to God by using it to serve others. Yes, some of us are a little cracked. Even in the pages of the Bible, we find people who were imperfect, but God used them anyway. Samson had some very deep character flaws, Gideon was no gem, Jonah wanted to see an entire civilization wiped out, and Peter couldn't keep one foot out of his mouth long enough to switch to the other. And that doesn't even scratch the surface!

You are valuable to the God of Heaven. He loves you. He sent his only Son to live on earth as a human and die for your sins. His Son Jesus Christ rose from the dead on the third day to secure that gift. You have value! Don't think that because the world labels you as defective that you somehow are not valuable. Yes, we are all sinners. We all have sinned and fall short of God's glory, but that gift of Salvation is freely given so that we can move on from that and use the wonderful gifts God has given to us through the blood of Jesus Christ.

You are loved.

You have value.

You are not alone.