Self-knowledge
Scripture Reading — Matthew 25:14-30
"To one he gave five talents of money, to another two talents, and to another one talent ..." Matthew 25:15
Sometimes it's surprising how uninformed we can be about ourselves. We can be blind to things in our life that are obvious to others. We can be in denial about our own weaknesses. We can also fail to recognize our strengths and abilities.
We all have an internal picture of ourselves--a picture that includes not only our physical appearance (what we think we look like) but also our abilities (what we think we can and can't do). The more accurate that internal picture is, the healthier each of us will be as a person.
Many of us have read or heard Jesus' parable of the talents before. Often when we encounter this story, we get to thinking that some people have many gifts and abilities, some have less, and some have very few. Then we also remind ourselves that all have some. But how often do we go the next step and ask ourselves, "Where am I in this parable? How much do I really understand about myself? About the gifts God has given me? Do I have five talents, or two, or one? What are they, and what am I doing with them?"
Understanding and knowing ourselves is a key ingredient to healthy obedience. Perhaps because it's so hard for us to be objective, God has placed key people around us to help us see ourselves as we are.
Are we listening to them?
Lord, help me today to recognize your blessings, including the gifts you have invested in me. Bring into my life today people who can help me know myself. In Jesus, Amen.
About the author — Howard Vanderwell
Rev. Howard Vanderwell was involved in pastoral ministry in the Christian Reformed Church for 40 years, serving as a pastor in Iowa, Illinois, and Michigan. Upon retirement in 2002, he began his work at Calvin Seminary, where he helped train the ministers of the next generation. Howard and his wife, Eleanor, were married for 57 years and had three married sons and ten grandchildren.
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