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A father and son who live on a mid-western farm in the early 1940’s are playing catch beside a rustic red barn while a neighbor girl wearing “pig tails” looks on sitting at the helm of an old weathered tractor. The 12 year old southpaw winds up and lets it fly. His dad, in a catcher’s squat, catches the pitch, pauses to look at his son and says, “You’ve got a gift Roy…It’s not enough…You gotta develop yourself. Rely too much on your gift and you’ll fail…” This pearl of wisdom does not come from the Proverbs of Solomon or a wise sage of old. For those of you who don’t recognize this cinematic moment it is a scene from The Natural. This statement has been lodged in my mind for years (because I have seen this movie at least 25 times) but I have not applied it to my life as liberally as I ought to have. Recently, I picked up John Maxwell’s new book Talent Is Never Enough and it reminded of the above movie quote. Along with Maxwell, Roy’s dad answers the question I have posed in the title of this article when he says, “It (talent) is not enough…”

I do not intend to be completely presumptuous here but I think I can say with some confidence that most of us have probably known someone either directly or distantly that we have made the following comment about, “What a waste of good talent…” Whether a sports figure, someone with great intellect or a musical prodigy, when the talent that is so evident to everyone else seems to be either underestimated or just devalued by the one who is so gifted we all just shake our heads and make that clicking sound (you know the one) that insinuates utter pity and disgust as we say, “What a waste…” Perhaps you are that gifted person and you are looking back at recent years thinking about what used to be or what could’ve been and you are kicking yourself for not taking more chances or being more aggressive, etc… Either way it is no surprise that so many are duped into thinking that talent alone insures success. There is a massive amount of attention given to talented people in our society. Talented people are thrust into the spotlight and appear to achieve bonifide success seemingly overnight. It is true that talent can take you a long way but when you get there if you do not possess some accompanying character traits your talent takes on the fate of the house painter who is 35 feet in the air on an old rickety ladder. If the ladder gives way you have no choice but to ride it down. Your talent may lead you to lofty heights but unless your character is equal to the gift it is likely that from those heights you will fall. Talent is your friend on your way up and your partner while you are “successful” but on the way down it becomes your worst enemy. You become another parody for all of the nay-sayers and those who would seek your demise. Some traits that Maxwell mentions in his book that will add to the talented person’s character are: Belief, Passion, Initiative, Focus, Preparation, Perseverance, Character, Courage, and so on. He does not necessarily categorize these qualities but lifts them all to a fairly equal importance.

Scripture, I think, makes an argument for perseverance being chief among all of the above mentioned character traits. James 1:2-4 says, “Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.” In his letter James seems to assume that Christians have some knowledge that testing produces perseverance. I think that is still a safe assumption. Anyone living life in Christ, outstanding talent or not, has already experienced or in the future will experience the kind of testing that develops perseverance. Since the topic of this article is talent we will stick to that. Chances are if you are worth your salt at whatever you do your talent has been tested, questioned, evaluated and perhaps even ridiculed. And as a result one of two things probably happened. Either you re-established belief (faith) in your talent and it provoked you to greater accomplishment (perseverance) or you quit. I think James teaches us it is the former that bears fruit. If perseverance has its way with you, you will end up “mature and complete, not lacking anything.” Perseverance is sustenance for your talent. It feeds the gift. If your talent takes you to a height where your character is exposed, hopefully perseverance will have had its work in you and maturity will allow you handle the pressures that accompany the notoriety and attention that your talent may attract. A complete maturity (vs 4) will move you from being merely a talented person to being a successful person. In the industry most who will read this are involved in, the success that your talent leads to is not wholly based on chart worthy songs or selling thousands of records. The standard and definition of success you hold yourselves to entails having impact in the Kingdom of God and affecting eternal (and temporal) destinies as the primary focus. Good projects, hit songs and talented vocalists can definitely widen the scope of ministry but talent is only a means to success it is not the end. To have talent is good. God gives the gift! To have that talent recognized is very good. To be successful in this industry by the above mentioned standard is better.

“You have a gift (your name here). It’s not enough. You gotta develop yourself. Rely too much on your gift and you’ll fail…” But, persevere and you will be mature and complete, lacking nothing. You will be a success…

p.s. Pick up the Maxwell book…It’s a good resource.

Aaron Unthank

Reader Comments

Cyndi,
Thank you again for your comments. Perhaps I should just add it as an addendum to my article. In reference to your comment, "He expects us to use the talents He gives us to their fullest spiritual potential..." I also think that God expects us to use our talents to their fullest physical potential as well. Whatever is deposited in us by the Spirit must have a vehicle that moves toward accomplishing whatever the Spirit wills to accomplish. I can't tell you how many times I've heard someone say, "God has just put a song in my heart..." And I truly believe He probably had. He just didn't put one in their mouth! Psalm 40:3 says, "He put a new song in my mouth, a hymn of praise to our God. Many will see and fear the Lord and put their trust in him." God gave the song yet David said, "Many will SEE..." That seems to mean that there had to be a physical rendering of that song. And the result thereof...? People will fear the Lord and put their trust in him. Which is all the success any Christian/Gospel artist can hope for!

Thank you all for your input. It is full of depth and insight...

Cyndi,
I think I understood your comments concerning the inspiration you receive from the Lord. I do agree that it is extremely hard to articulate spiritual intimacies.

Keith,
Right on bro.!

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