Our Master, Christ Jesus, expects his followers to do this. As he said: "Herein is my Father glorified, that ye bear much fruit; so shall ye be my disciples." (John 15:5) But this call for a productive, spiritually useful life is not limited to some ill-defined spiritual elite; it speaks to each of us.
But what if someone feels he hasn't any talents to use? While we may not always see it, everyone has ability; it just needs to be brought to light. The teachings of Christian Science can help with this. Mary Baker Eddy points out in Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures: "A knowledge of the Science of being develops the latent abilities and possibilities of man. It extends the atmosphere of thought, giving mortals access to broader and higher realms." (p. 128)
Christian Science teaches man's unity with God, divine Mind. It shows that each one of us is actually a spiritual idea reflecting this Mind. All that man has, he has by reflection from God. Intelligence, originality, and ability--these do not come from some other place; ;and they aren't limited to a select few. Spiritual qualities are continuously being imparted by God to His beloved children. To all His children. Because we're God's very reflection, we're never apart from the divine source of all ideas. When we begin to understand this, we are more receptive to what He is imparting, and we can learn to make more timely and effective use of our abilities.
Our allotment of talents may seem meager to us. But we want to be sure to cultivate the ones we have. We can cherish the desire to bless others and find opportunities--whatever we do for a living--to give of ourselves in the service of Christ. As we prayerfully put our talent to use, God will see to it that our prayer bears fruit. As the Bible assures us, "God is able to make all grace abound toward you; that ye, always having all sufficiency in all things, may abound to every good work. (II Cor. 9:8)
As Science and Health points out that unless an ability is used, we may not have it to use! "If faithful over a few things," we are told, "we shall be made rulers over many; but the one unused talent decays and is lost." (p. 323)
If we are thinking of working more actively for Christ, it can help to ponder what our Master said and did. When we examine closely Jesus' teachings and example, and then live his precepts as nearly as we can, our efforts to be more productive are increasingly fruitful. We read in John that Jesus said, "I am the vine; ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bright further much fruit: for with me ye can do nothing." (John 15:5)
We can be sure that as we are "branches" abiding in Christ, God will provide ample oppofunity for us to employ are talents in bringing His kingdom to light (something the world certainly needs). And there is no reason why we shouldn't become more fruitful for Christ, His Son.
