Perhaps you have heard someone argue, “I have a talent to play an instrument, so surely the Lord would want me to use this talent in worshipping Him.” The thought behind such a statement is this: if I have the ability to play a mechanical instrument and the Lord wants me to use my talents in His service, then God would necessarily want me to play this mechanical instrument as I worship Him. To some, this argument may seem reasonable at first glance. However, we should note that the ramifications of applying this line of reasoning lead one to the absurd. Consider the following simple points concerning this argument.

Does Having a Talent Authorize That Talent’s Use? Let us first consider this question in general terms. Saul persecuted Christians and caused them to blaspheme (Ac. 26:11). He was obviously talented at it as “he made havoc of the church” (Ac. 8:3). Did simply having this “talent” mean that God authorized its use? There are those who have a “talent” to gamble, steal, or lie. Do these “talents” become acceptable to God simply because one has a “talent” for them? Surely, we can see that having a talent does not automatically authorize its use. More specific to the question at hand, if simply having a talent for something necessarily means that the Lord would have you use this talent in worshipping Him, then…

• Dorcas had a talent for making tunics and garments (Ac. 8:39), so surely the Lord would have wanted her to make garments as she worshipped Him.
• Aquila and Priscilla had a talent for making tents (Ac. 18:2-3), so the Lord must have desired that they make tents while worshipping Him.
• Peter and Andrew had a talent for fishing (Matt. 4:18), thus the Lord must have desired them to fish as they worshipped Him.
• There are those with a talent for baking pies, painting pictures, telling a good joke, racing cars, or playing football, so the Lord must want them to do these things as they worship Him.

Thus, we would have to conclude that we should have a sewing circle, fish-filled baptistery, art studio, racetrack, and a football field prepared during our worship services so that each one can use their talent while worshipping God. If such reasoning applies to the mechanical instrument of music, why can it not be applied to these? The fact is that God has not authorized anyone to sew, fish, paint, play football, etc. in worship to Him anymore than He has authorized someone to worship Him with a mechanical instrument of music.

Consider the Parable of the Talents. Does the parable of the talents teach that if I have a talent, God would necessarily demand that I use it in worshipping Him (Matt. 25:14-30)? Many think the “talent” of the parable is a reference to someone’s ability. However, such is not the case. A “talent” was a weight and unit of money. Notice that the “talents” were given “to each according to his own ability” (Matt. 25:15). Thus, the “talent” was given based on the man’s “ability” and was not the “ability” itself. Therefore, in this parable, we find that the talents represent opportunities the Lord gives us to use our abilities. The one talent man was condemned because he had not used the opportunity his lord had given him. There is nothing inherently wrong with playing a mechanical instrument like a guitar, piano, organ, harmonica, etc. – I would like to have that ability myself. However, if one has the ability to play a mechanical instrument of music, may they realize that the Lord has not given them the “talent” (opportunity) to use that “ability” in offering worship to Him. Why? He has prohibited such action by His silence on doing anything else in worshipping Him in music other than to sing!

David Eldridge