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NASB | Romans 11:29 for the gifts and the calling of God are irrevocable. |
AMPLIFIED 2015 | Romans 11:29 For the gifts and the calling of God are irrevocable [for He does not withdraw what He has given, nor does He change His mind about those to whom He gives His grace or to whom He sends His call]. |
Subject: being blessed with gifts |
Bible Note: Hi Searcher, In the Parable of the Talents, the master gave to his servants differing amounts of money, "each according to his own ability." Matt 25:15 "To one he gave five talents, to another, two, and to another, one, each according to his own ability; and he went on his journey." That point is key to understanding what is happening here. This is not a parable of God giving us abilities, but rather resources, according to our abilities. We could think of this as our material goods, our time, these kinds of things. God, through spiritual gifts, gives us abilities which we do not naturally have. Perhaps the easiest example would be the gift of administration. God gives someone the gift of administration, and then He also gives them an organization to administrate. The gift of administration is the gift that God does not take back. The organization is the resource that our Master will judge our faithfulness upon. If that person neglects to administrate that organization, or does so half-heartedly, God may take away that organization. If that adminisrator shows their dedication to the proper and godly administration of the organization, God may give them 10 organizations to administrate. In thinking of this parable in regards to natural abilities, it works the same way. The person who has natural teaching abilities receives from God a classroom to teach in. They are given materials and training. If they use them well, they may receive from God more. If they do not, they will lose even what they do have. So this parable is not about the ability to do things, but rather it is about the resources, the tools, that we are to use, with the abilities that we have. Love in Christ, Mark |