人人都喜欢收到礼物，尤其是从我们爱的人那里来的，可能是在生日或任何其他特殊的场合。但比礼物本身更重要的是那个花时间和精力准备并送出礼物的人。而体贴周到的礼物更特别，更令人难忘。

在本期视频中，魏泰德牧师和妻子南茜，一起谈论属灵恩赐和事工，这是基于基督复临安息日会基本信仰第十七条。

马太福音25章讲了一个才干的比喻，一个人把贵重的礼物或才干托付给他的仆人。

 “天国又好比一个人要往外国去，就叫了仆人来，把他的家业交给他们，按着各人的才干，给他们银子，一个给了五千，一个给了二千，一个给了一千，就往外国去了。”（14-15节）

在16-18节继续写道：“那领五千的随即拿去作买卖，另外赚了五千；那领二千的也照样另赚了二千；但那领一千的去掘开地，把主人的银子埋藏了。”

当主人回来时，他称赞那些聪明地运用自己才能的人，对他们每个人说:“ 好，你这又良善又忠心的仆人，你在不多的事上有忠心，我要把许多事派你管理，可以进来享受你主人的快乐。”

与此同时，主人责备了那个没有发挥才干，而把钱埋在地里的仆人说：“你这又恶又懒的仆人，你既知道我没有种的地方要收割，没有散的地方要聚敛！”

这些工人没有被要求在缺乏资源的情况下工作，或者换句话说，“不做无米之炊。”他们得到了所需要的东西。如果使用得当，它们将得到丰厚的回报。

上帝赐给我们每个人恩赐和才干，可以为祂所用，也可以惠及别人。最大的喜乐是当圣灵在我们身上做工时，看见有人回应圣灵的感动 。

在本会基本信仰第17条宣称：“上帝在各世代都赐给祂教会每一教友属灵的恩赐，让每一教友用在爱的服务上，使教会及人类都共同获益。”

它继续说道：“这些恩赐是由圣灵按着祂自己的意思分赐给各教友，供给教会为完成上帝指定任务所需的一切能力与职事。依据圣经，这些恩赐包括的职事有：信心，医病，说预言，宣讲福音，教导，治理，和好，同情，自我牺牲的服务，并帮助人鼓励人的爱心。”

下面接着说：“有些教友被上帝选召，圣灵赋予能力，从使教会所承认的职务，如牧师、传福音的、使徒、教师，以满足信徒服务时特别的需要，以建造教会至其灵性成熟之境，以培植教友对上帝的知识及信仰上的合一。”

最后说：“当教友做上帝百般恩赐的忠心管家，使用这些属灵的恩赐时，教会就得到保护，免受假道的破坏，而获致出于上帝的增长，并在信与爱中建立自己。”

怀爱伦在《基督比喻实训》一书中，写道：“基督所交托教会的银子，主要代表圣灵所赐的种种恩赐与福惠。”（327页）“比喻中的银子不仅代表圣灵的特别恩赐，也包括一切先天或后天的、肉体或属灵方面的才能。这一切才能都要用来为基督服务。”（328页）

但是上帝不会要求我们去做没有给我们能力去做的事情。在这本书的第333页，怀爱伦说：“当人的意志与上帝的旨意合作时，就必拥有无比的力量。凡奉祂的命令而行的事，都能靠着祂的大能完成。凡祂所吩咐的都必实现。”

你愿意献上你的才能为上帝使用吗?祂愿意并且能够提供你所需要的一切，来完成祂的工作。

愿上帝使用你去祝福别人，并借着你的恩赐和才干把福音带给他们。

Everyone enjoys receiving gifts, especially from people we love, may it be on a birthday or any other special occasion. But more important than the gift itself is the person who took the time and effort to prepare and give it. And thoughtfulness is what makes it more special and memorable.

In this episode, Pastor Ted Wilson and his wife, Nancy, talk about the spiritual gifts and ministries based on the seventeenth fundamental belief of the Seventh-day Adventists.

Matthew 25 tells the parable of the talents wherein a man entrusted his workers with valuable gifts or talents.

“For the kingdom of heaven is like a man traveling to a far country, who called his own servants and delivered his goods to them. And to one he gave five talents, to another two, and to another one, to each according to his own ability; and immediately he went on a journey” (verses 14 and 15).

Continuing in verses 16 to 18, “then he who had received the five talents went and traded with them, and made another five talents. And likewise, he who had received two gained two more also. But he who had received one went and dug in the ground and hid his lord’s money.”

When the owner returned, he commended those who used their talents wisely, telling each of them, “Well done, good and faithful servant; you were faithful over a few things, I will make you ruler over many things. Enter into the joy of your lord” (verse 21).

Meanwhile, the one who didn’t use his talent and buried it in the ground blamed the owner for giving him such, saying, “I knew you to be a hard man, reaping where you have not sown and gathering where you have not scattered seed!”

These workers were not asked to do their work without resources or, in other words, to “make bricks without straw.” They were given the things they needed. If used wisely, they would be richly rewarded.

God gives each of us gifts and talents to use for Him and reach others. There is no greater joy than seeing someone respond to the prompting of the Holy Spirit as He works through us.

As our seventeenth fundamental belief states, “God bestows upon all members of His church in every age spiritual gifts that each member is to employ in loving ministry for the common good of the church and of humanity.”

It continues, “Given by the agency of the Holy Spirit, Who apportions to each member as He wills, the gifts provide all abilities and ministries needed by the church to fulfill its divinely ordained functions. According to the Scriptures, these gifts include such ministries as faith, healing, prophecy, proclamation, teaching, administration, reconciliation, compassion, and self-sacrificing service and charity for the help and encouragement of people.”

It goes on, saying, “Some members are called of God and endowed by the Spirit for functions recognized by the church in pastoral, evangelistic, and teaching ministries particularly needed to equip the members for service, to build up the church to spiritual maturity, and to foster unity of the faith and knowledge of God.”

Lastly, “when members employ these spiritual gifts as faithful stewards of God’s varied grace, the church is protected from the destructive influence of false doctrine, grows with a growth that is from God, and is built up in faith and love.”

In connection to this, Ellen White reminds us in Christ’s Object Lessons, “The talents that Christ entrusts to His church represent especially the gifts and blessings imparted by the Holy Spirit” (page 327). “The special gifts of the Spirit are not the only talents represented in the parable. It includes all gifts and endowments, whether original or acquired, natural or spiritual. All are to be employed in Christ’s service” (page 328).

But God doesn’t ask us to do something without giving us the power to do it. On page 333 of the same book, Ellen White says, “As the will of man cooperates with the will of God, it becomes omnipotent. Whatever is to be done at His command may be accomplished in His strength. All His biddings are enablings.”

Are you willing to use your talents for God? He is willing and able to provide you everything you need to accomplish His work.

May God use you to bless other people and bring them the gospel through your gifts and talents.