Misplaced Talent

February 12, 2009

Today's Reading: Exodus 35-36 and Proverbs 13

Since we're past the whole Ten Commandments/Golden Calf part of the book of Exodus, it is non-stop Tabernacle description. As for me, it's kind of interesting to read about the symbolic or biblical architecture because a lot of the stuff in the Tabernacle is really cool, sometimes.

One of the most notable things about this part is how God assigns specific people for the task of the Tabernacle. Apparently, God had anointed these specific people with a lot of skill, so they were perfect for the job.

It doesn't look like there was some sort of application process for this, it just appeared that God chose them for the job. It doesn't look like these two, Bezalel and Oholiab, had any choice about the matter.

This raises an important question. Why is it that some people seem more talented than others? Why is it that comedians can make witty comments on the fly, but some people (especially Christians) really suck at telling any kind of joke, even if they are good.

Talent is one of those things that we have some control over. People can go to school and refine their talent, but this is implying that there is talent to begin with. I am guessing that there are some things that I will never be good at, even if I am given an eternity.

In fact, let's say we are all in heaven. I am assuming that even with an eternity of whatever work we will do with God, we will have an infinite amount of spare time. (This is an infinite set in an infinite set.) So in that spare time of eternity, some people will probably knit sweaters, and will have a whole closet full. Some won't even attempt it after a thousand years.

In short, what makes one person's amplitude better than anyone else's? I suppose no one's talent is "greater" than anyone else's, it is just that God likes to work with all sorts of different people.

The key is to go with the talents that we have. I am assuming that if God has created someone with a talent for making sweaters, than this person should be good place where making sweaters will save lives.

What makes it interesting is how God uses all of these talents to simply work together to create the world as we know it. Oddly enough, those who are often the most talented in their field are not necessarily working in that field. Yet even these supposedly misplaced serve a function.

So the moral is, where you are in comparison with what you can do is part of God's plan.