Watching the Cincinnati Bengals play the Indianapolis Colts tonight on Monday Night Football, I realized something I had ‘known’ but not yet grasped. The Bengals had tons of offensive talent: Carson Palmer, Chad Johnson, T.J. Whosyourmamma, Chris Henry, Rudi Johnson. Their defense had been playing well. Indianapolis’ defense had been playing pathetic, and even at the top of their game, is mediocre at best. So what happened? The Bengals couldn’t get a win because of their lack of effort and attitude. So how in the world does this translate to ministry?
God has placed people in our paths as ministers, and He has given us each great talent and giftings. But if we refuse to do anything with them, or approach the task at hand (the Great Commission) with a lack of effort, the Enemy will do nothing but run up the score on us.
Monday night’s game was a modern day Parable of the Talents: the Bengals refused to risk it and approach the task with zeal, and they ended up with an “L”. Will you?