Use It or Lose It

The late author and motivational speaker Charles E. “Tremendous” Jones tells a story in his book, Life is Tremendous, about a man who approached him following a speech with this question.

“Charles, do you think it’s possible for a person to be excited about his work, be thrilled and successful, and, three years later be sick and sorry he ever heard of the whole lousy mess?”

Jones wrote that he immediately thought here’s a person that didn’t know the law of use it or lose it.

“God gives everyone certain attributes, characteristics, talents, and then he says, ‘If you use what you have, I’ll increase it, but if you don’t use it, you’ll lose it.’ Use it or lose it! It’s a law,” Jones writes.

He points out that too many people in their professions or businesses, quit growing and begin coasting. They fail to use their talents. As a result, they are losing what they had and don’t even realize it.

This principle is also true in the area of spiritual growth. We must continue to sow seeds that will produce the fruit of the spirit. To grow in grace and knowledge. To grow in virtue. To grow our talents, gifts and abilities. Robert Louis Stevenson expressed it this way: “Don’t judge each day by the harvest you reap, but by the seeds you plant.”

Jesus’ parable of the talents teaches the principle of “use it, or lose it,” among other important lessons. In the story, a wealthy plantation owner goes on an extended journey and entrusts three of his servants with varying “talents,” which were amounts of money in Bible times. Commentators suggest one talent was equal to 20 years of wages of a common laborer. They were given based on their individual ability.

One man was given 5 talents, another 2 talents, and the third servant just one talent. The Master left. When he returned, he called the servants to give account for their business dealings.

The 5 talent man, who clearly was blessed with business acumen, doubled his talents and presented the Master with 10 talents. The 2 talent man, though he had less ability, doubled his investment and accumulated 4 talents. Each of these were commended. “Well done, “good and faithful servant,” the Lord proclaimed. Each were rewarded with greater opportunities and blessings.

However, the one talent man was afraid. He hid his talent. So, he only had what was originally given him to return to the owner. His Master was furious. He called him “a wicked and lazy servant.” He was reminded that he could have at least invested the money in an interest bearing account which would have provided some profit. He then ordered that the one talent man’s money be taken from him and given to the man with ten talents. Then Jesus offers this insight.

“For to everyone who has will more be given, and he will have an abundance. But from the one who has not, even what he has will be taken away.”

In other words, “use it or lose it.”

Jesus’ parable applies to our work in the Kingdom. To our use of the gifts, abilities and talents we’ve been given. To our spiritual growth. In this regard, Paul penned:

“Having then gifts differing according to the grace that is given to us, let us use them: if prophecy, let us prophesy in proportion to our faith; or ministry, let us use it in our ministering; he who teaches, in teaching; he who exhorts, in exhortation; he who gives, with liberality; he who leads, with diligence; he who shows mercy, with cheerfulness” (Rom. 12:6-8).

Use. Use. Use.

God wants us to use what we have been given to glorify Him and to accomplish the purpose with which he has entrusted us. When we use our gifts, we grow. We sharpen our skills. We develop and refine them. We find ourselves increasing and improving spiritually.

The Hebrew Christians were rebuked for failing to grow. They were on “the milk of the word,” when they should have been “eating meat.” The author then concludes, “But solid food belongs to those who are of full age, that is, those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil” (Heb. 5:14).

We grow in our discernment by “reason of use.” Guess what happens when we fail to use God’s Word, increase our usefulness, and fail to grow? We begin to decrease, decline and finally decay.

Too many preachers, pastors, Bible teachers, and Christians are coasting. Living off of past knowledge. Content with the status quo. Failing to grow and improve. The demand of discipleship to develop spiritually. To mature. To press on. To be faithful, fruitful, and increasing our usefulness to the Lord.

The choice is clear. Use it. Or lose it.

–Ken Weliever, The Preacherman