This post continues the ongoing series on the subject of discovering, developing and deploying your talent. God designed you in such a way that it is only by the diligent use of your talent would you be able to fulfill your destiny and become significantly distinguished in life. In the previous post, I introduced the following words of Jesus Christ with respect to the deployment of our talents:

"In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven."
~Matthew 5:16

Here, Jesus Christ points out the two main interests that should always motivate the excellent expression of our talents:

1. The praise of God.
2. The benefit of men.

The above two motivations also reveal the primary and most important places for the deployment of your talent:

1. The house of God.
2. The marketplace.

We’ve already looked at the first place. Let’s now move on to the second place – the marketplace.

Jesus’ parable of the talents is a very popular one. In it He tells the story of three people that received several talents, what they did with those talents, and how they were individually rewarded.

"To one he gave five talents of money, to another two talents, and to another one talent, each according to his ability. Then he went on his journey. The man who had received the five talents went at once and put his money to work and gained five more."
~Matthew 25:15-16

The profitable servants were those that deployed their talents diligently in the marketplace. You must learn to diligently deploy your talent in the market place if you want to experience the enduring joy  that comes from fulfilling your destiny. Of course, in order to become significantly distinguished in life, you must be able to consistently and successfully deploy your talent in the marketplace.

When I use the term ‘marketplace,’ I’m not referring to a shopping plaza or mall. I don’t mean market in the literal buy-and-sell sense. Rather, my reference is to the arena of human needs. Around you, and all over the world, people have dreams. They have aspirations. They have very pressing and important needs. People and their needs constitute what I have termed the ‘marketplace.’

To deploy your talent in the marketplace simply means using it to solve specific human problems. For us as Christians, this is actually an important aspect of evangelism.

"There are different kinds of working, but the same God works all of them in all men. Now to each one the manifestation of the Spirit is given for the common good." ~ 1 Corinthians 12:6-7

While the verse above refers primarily to spiritual gifts, it’s principle should also be applied to natural talents. God gifted you for the common good; for the good of others. You were gifted to bless.

Now, below are 3 very simple steps to aid you in effectively deploying your talent in the marketplace:

#1. Scan through all the various human needs around you – as many as you can.

For instance, people want to be at peace with God and feel close to Him. For this they need spiritual knowledge. They also need the motivation to apply that knowledge.

People want to be happy and excited about life. For this they need some inspiring entertainment.

People want to be healthy, and live long lives. For this, they need counseling and health information.

People want to achieve their dreams and goals in life. For this they need to optimize their resources. They will also need adequate coaching, plus a good doze of motivation.

People want to look good and feel important. For this they need clothes, cosmetics, branding, packaging.

Human needs are as numerous and as varied as the stars in the sky and the sands by the seashore.

Scanning your immediate environment, think of as many of these needs as you can.

#2. Accurately match your talent with at least one solution to a human problem.

For instance, the talent of communication can be accurately matched to the human need of spiritual knowledge and motivation.

Which one of the solutions to the various human problems can be adequately supplied and administered by your talent? Individuals that want to achieve their dreams and goals need to optimize whatever resources they have. This need is a perfect match to the talent of managing.

#3. Now, start supplying that solution as excellently as you can, starting with the nearest person that needs it.

Don’t think money; think more in terms of helping people, solving problems, making lives better. Money is nothing but the natural reward for solving problems.  If your talent is communicating, for instance – as in my case – any of the following is an effective channel for supplying whatever kind of information those connected with you need:

• One one conversations.
• Leadership classes/conferences.
• Blog.
• Audio CDs.
• Books.

In any case, you deploy your talent in the marketplace by applying it to solve specific human problems.