Ezra 8:28-30 And I said to these priests, “You and these treasures have been set apart as holy to the Lord. This silver and gold is a voluntary offering to the Lord, the God of our ancestors. Guard these treasures well until you present them to the leading priests, the Levites, and the leaders of Israel, who will weigh them at the storerooms of the Lord’s Temple in Jerusalem.” So the priests and Levites accepted the task of transporting these treasures of silver and gold to the Temple of our God in Jerusalem.
You have been given gifts, talents, abilities – all treasures given to you by the Father. As a bearer of His gifts, as an image bearer of the Father, you have been set apart as holy to Him. You are to treasure these gifts. You are to protect them, transport them carefully throughout the life you have been given. You are to offer them up as a living sacrifice to Him – using them to further His kingdom. You are to come to know them, to develop them, and to always be cognizant of your use of them. You are never to abuse them nor abuse the positions in which they may place you. Are you a gifted teacher? Then you are to teach about me, for me, and always in alignment with my Word. Are you a prophet? Then the words you speak of a prophetic nature are only to be my words. Never your own. Are you a carpenter? Then build everything to the best of your ability, with quality materials and flawless construction – building each and every item as if it were a gift to me. Are you a caregiver? Then you should love all your charges with a love that is pure and kind and representative of my love. Do you not see? You represent me. I have gifted you specifically, uniquely so that you may represent me as only you can. I have given you gifts that you may use them to serve me and to serve others. But caution: those gifts come from me. Though I expect you to develop them, do not become arrogant about them. They are of me. And, note that these gifts I have given you are expected to be used (and used appropriately). If you choose to ignore them, or if you use them inappropriately, I will take them away. So, will you accept the gifts, develop the gifts, use them according to my will and my direction and always, always acknowledge that they come from me?
Amanuensis 