10 For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each one may receive what is due for what he has done in the body, whether good or evil.
Since the gifts are from him [Christ], they are not our personal property. They are only lent to us. They are not ours to use as we wish. They are our trusts. If someone is made a trustee of a sum of money or a property, they are not allowed to use it for themselves. They are trustees on behalf of someone else. I think that clearly comes out in the parable of the talents in Matthew 25:1–46. A master entrusted talents to his servants: one got five, one got two, and one got one. Talents are not our meaning of
talents; they were large amounts of money. And the master went off on a journey. Meanwhile the servants had to use their talents for their master. We read in Matthew 25:19 that after a long time the master of those servants came and settled accounts with them. What have you done with what I entrusted to you? How have you used it?So, we are being reminded here that Christ is not only the Giver of the gifts, but he is the Judge of how they are used. Paul says in 2 Corinthians 5:10 that we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ. You and I will have to give account to the Lord Jesus of how we have used the gifts he has entrusted to us.
Our natural gifts, your brain, your body, your strength, your time, how did you use these things? Did you use them for God? Did you use them for yourself? But particularly these spiritual gifts. The gifts that as we saw in a previous study, has been given to every believer. Have we used our gifts or neglected our gifts? Are we like that unopened book that sits on your shelf for years—you bought it, you paid for it, and now it sits there, looking impressive, but you have not opened it once? So often our gifts are like that.
Do you know what your gifts are? Do you know how Christ wants you to speak or to serve in his church and his world? Are you using your gifts? Are we using our gifts with the right motives? I will still say more about that below. Are we using our gifts for the right purposes? Remember always that we will give account to Christ, every one of us. We are to live, so that he will say to you and me at the end,
Edward DonnellyWell done, good and faithful servant. You have been faithful over a little; I will set you over much. Enter into the joy of your master(Matthew 25:23). As we think of the gifts, never forget that you and I will answer to Jesus for how we have used them.1
19 Now after a long time the master of those servants came and settled accounts with them.