A band director was having a lot of trouble with one of his drummers.  He talked and talked and talked with the drummer, but his performance didn't improve.

Finally, in front of the whole orchestra, he said, "When a musician just can't handle his instrument and doesn't improve when given help, they take away the instrument, give him two sticks, and make him a drummer."

A whisper was heard from the percussion section: "And if he can't handle even that, they take away one of his sticks and make him a conductor."

It is a biblical principle that if we are unable to
handle the responsibility that God has given us, it can be taken away.   Jesus told a parable in Matthew 25 about three servants who were given money by their master and were told to make use of it while their master was gone.  When he returned, two of them had used their "talents" and one had not.  Jesus concluded the parable by saying:

"For to everyone who has,
more will be given,
and he will have abundance;
but from him who does not have,
even what he has will be taken away."
(Matt 25:29)

I need a constant reminder that all that I have has
been given to me by God to use for His glory.  It is an exciting thought to realize that as I use what God has given me, He will bless me with even more opportunities for service.  On the other hand, it is a sobering thought to realize that if I fail to make use of what I have been given, I may lose it.

So what are you doing with
what God has given you?