Multiplying Gifts for a Better World
The Journey of People-Talents – Part 2
I would like to remind us that the purpose of this theme of “The Gifts of People” is to identify, give a new perspective and shed light into how God envisioned his people to be. Think about it this way. God created humanity, humankind, and He set them off on a mission. The only way to get a clear picture of what that looks like is with this story. But before I go there, let me tell you what it is not. Because we live in a contaminated world, meaning we don’t always think of things from God’s perspective, it is easy to see or view humankind in a negative way. It is easier to point out flaws, see the problems, notice the challenges, and the things that tear people down, than it is to see their purpose and the reason behind why a group of people exist.
Therefore, I need to use this story to explain it. If God created humankind, and He did, that means He created them with His intention in mind, not our own. A part of this intent is revealed in a parable that Jesus told. This story’s purpose was to explain how God’s Kingdom or how His ways work. There was a master or business owner who was getting ready to go on a journey. He had to be away for quite some time on his travels, so he decided to leave his business in the hands of some of his servants based upon their abilities. So, he issued them responsibilities, these gifts, these talents, what have you. Some people refer to it as money. That doesn’t really matter. He left these servants with responsibilities based on their abilities. To one servant he gave five, to the next servant he gave two talents or two responsibilities, and to that last one he gave one. The point is he gave them something to work with. He left them in charge of something. In this installment, I want to take that thought just a little bit higher as it relates to the people of the earth. Because Jesus gave this parable of how God’s Kingdom works that means that same structure, system, works on a larger scale or within the groups of people. Each group of people have been given talents, gifts, skills, responsibilities, something that He wants them to work with. As best I can, I’d like to highlight a few of these that you may find in each of God’s people-groups and possibly see a picture of God’s intent for humankind.
The Eastward People-Group
We know that the eastward group, those who live in what we consider to be east of the center of civilization, mostly Asia, are responsible for or have the gift to innovate, create goods and products, birth technologies, and have traditions that are unlike any other place on earth. It is through these gifts and those points that make them special and unique. God has given this group these talents, these gifts, these skills to create, to do. Their talents, their gifts, their innovations, their ability to create, their contributions have transformed the world.
Without their abilities and without skills, we would not have the things in society that we have today. In fact, one of this group’s most substantial contributions is paper. What would our world be like today if we never had paper? That invention, that idea, that concept alone has transformed and revolutionized the world. Without paper we wouldn’t have writings, been able to write ourselves, and keep records. It’s this contribution, this gift, that has evolved into digital writing for that matter. Other significant contributions include, but let’s not limit it to these few items, silk, printing, and the compass. The compass has led to directions and GPS. All these things came out of one people-group, which is simply amazing. This group, or servant as the story goes, took what they had and multiplied it. They used those gifts. So in other words, their master left them with these gifts and they returned something better for us all.
The Southward People-Group
The southward people-group are those who, for the most part, live in Africa, near Africa, or settled in Africa, but anyway. This group’s main contributions, obviously, their gifts include 1) taking an extreme stance, going to the extreme, they take things to the next level, 2) wealth and resources, and 3) resilience. Those gifts have birthed global contributions that we can really no longer live without. They’ve taken these gifts, these skills, these talents, so to speak, and transformed them into things that make humanity and life as we know it better. Here are just a few examples: math, art, writing, and language came from this group. Medicines come out of this group. The calendar came out of this southward people-group. Sometimes we neglect those gifts, their talents, and their ability to produce, when we think about the problems or challenges we see on earth as opposed to what has been contributed. They are like one of the servants who took their talents and multiplied them.
The Northward People-Group
The northward people-group are those who migrated north of the center of civilization. That would equate to Europe. Here’s what you have out of that group and obviously, because God created people, they have gifts. Those gifts, skills, and talents include exploration, to settle, to inhabit, and to colonize. Other people are fascinated with their exploits. The question remains what has this group done with its talents? What has happened as a result of this people-group? They have provided us with scientific advancements, technological advancements, and established places to live that other people-groups would ever have dreamed of living. In fact, this people-group has taken us to the moon and back. They have explored space and even the depths of our seas. Those talents have been used to make our society and humanity better.
The Westward People-Group
The westward people-group’s gift is one of extreme sophistication, they can be fierce warriors, and experts in nature. I want to home in on that last talent for just a moment as I talk about some of the things that they have produced. They have a gift for control over the land and the forest. They have an exceptional respect for nature. This people-group created canoes and kayaks while creating water transportation systems, suspension bridges, and even paved roads. They have added to our society in such a way but I want to future home in on this nature, being experts in nature.
According to our research, it shows that the world’s food sources come from four major areas and that is China, India, the United States, and Brazil. The United States and Brazil represent what we call the area of the westward people-group. That means 1/3 of the world’s food supply comes from the area where the experts in nature exist. In fact, 69% of agricultural workers that are in the United States alone are native to this westward area, this westward group of people. This slightly proves to us that they are truly experts in nature. With that said, allow me to point out that they’ve used their gifts, multiplied their talents, and made life better for all.
Let me conclude with this thought. When we go back to the story, here we have this master who went away and upon his return calls his servants, his people-groups, together. Let’s just say he’s calling the westward, southward, northward, and eastward people-groups back to him and asking them to give an account. The question becomes, what have you done with your talents? What have these groups done with their unique gifts?
The story goes like this: the first servant who had the five talents came back and said to his master, I have increased from 5 talents to 10. I have multiplied the talents. The one with the two talents came back and said, I now have four. But the servant who received one talent, reported that he went and placed his talent into the ground, hid it, and didn’t do anything with it. This last servant could only present back one talent and the master was very displeased at the results. [1]
Based on this story alone, as we review the people-groups that God has created, they have all succeeded in multiplying their gifts and talents. Thusly, making God pleased with their output. That’s what I like about the people-groups. Put aside the negative things, put aside the trouble, the turmoil, the wars, the things that are wicked and evil. For the most part, God’s order, God’s way, His kingdom is still producing. It is far out producing the negative results that we focus on from day to day. How many of the good things, the positive productivity, the multiplied occasions, can you see that have come forth from each of these people-groups on earth? When we look at the people-groups on earth, we should think of how God is pleased at what His creation has been able to accomplish for that was His intent all along.
Question: How is God’s creation living up to the standards of being multipliers of their unique gifts?
[1] Matthew 25:19-30 NLT, Bible.com, accessed July 12, 2023, https://www.bible.com/bible/116/MAT.25.19-30.NLT
All Scripture references used by permission, see our Scripture copyrights.
