[This is part two of two in my “Vintage Wednesday” series on “Maximizing Your Gift,” re-written/updated from a blogpost back in February of 2011.]

Last week I finished my post with the questions: Did I just wake up one day and decide to be a public speaker? Did my awareness of God utilizing this gift within me come into sharp focus in a moment?

No, not at all. In fact, just the opposite. I more or less grew into it. My fear of audiences slowly faded. My speaking style morphed over time into what it is today. Oh, I still get nervous sometimes before getting on stage. I still quake a little at the fear of failure. And I certainly still have a great amount to work on in developing my speaking skills and presentations. But I'm moving upward and onward. I've read books on communication. I've listened to great communicators and still do. I also constantly seek feedback on my presentations.

I think I've discovered my gift. God orchestrated various events throughout my childhood and adolescence to bring me to this point. I clearly know that this is the talent he has called me to utilize for His glory. He requires that I not bury it, that I not waste it.

I was reminded of all this while reading Erwin McManus' insights into the parable of the talents (Luke 19:11-27): “God sees not only who we are, but who we can become. When we neglect our God-given capacity, when we refuse to maximize our God-given potential, it is wickedness in the sight of God.”

Did you catch that? The guy who buried his gift is called a “wicked servant”! Sometimes sins of omission are just as great as sins of commission.

Every one of us has potential. Every one of us has a God-given talent that He wants to maximize for His glory. And to not utilize it or to not develop it to its full capacity is considered wicked.

So what is your gift…have you discovered it? If so, what are you doing with it? And finally, are you going to do everything in your power to maximize it for God's glory?