Lord, we have a program for our “high potential” colleagues, to make sure that they advance.   Those with the “five talents” are treated well, given extra training, mentors and opportunities.   They are good people and they thrive.

First of all, what can I do for people with three talents?   These folks are the 66% in the middle of a normal distribution.   They are talented, they work hard but are not identified as high potential.   Help me Lord to value them and value their potential.   They may not advance as quickly as the high potentials, but they aspire to contribute and be successful.  How can I help them define their greatness?  Perhaps they really have five talents or perhaps they are leveraging their three talents quite extraordinarily.   What can I say in large meetings that is not condescending but encouraging?   Where can I show up and give support to this wonderful majority?  How can I influence our rewards system so that they get the feedback they need to improve and have meaningful goals and objectives?   Give me the empathy to connect with these folks, show respect and value them.

Secondly, what about those that hide their talents, are unwilling to risk trying new things, who view our reward system as punitive to them?  Help us to awake the potential in these folks.  Can we set challenging objectives without causing fear?   You and I want them to be happy and productive.  What shall I do?

Lastly, help me redirect those who are not competent or well placed in their jobs.   It is a source of discomfort for them and for us.   Are there jobs within our organization that suit them better?  Can we counsel them to prepare for jobs outside the organization?   They need to be masters of their own fate; but how can we help them?

Section 2, Scripture: Ps 72:1-11; MT 25:14-30

Hebrew Scripture

New Testament

Of Solomon.  God loves all people, the strong and the weak, the gifted and the ordinary 2 O God, give your judgment to the king; your justice to  the king’s son; That he may govern your people with justice,your oppressed with right judgement, 3 That the mountains may yield their bounty for the people, and the hills great abundance, 4 That he may defend the oppressed among the people, save the children of the poor and crush the oppressor. 5 May they fear you with the sun, and before the moon, through all generations. 6 May he be like rain coming down upon the fields, like showers watering the earth, 7 That abundance may flourish in his days, great bounty, till the moon be no more. 8 May he rule from sea to sea, from the river to the ends of the earth. 9 May his foes kneel before him, his enemies lick the dust. 10 May the kings of Tarshish and the islands bring tribute, the kings of Sheba and Seba offer gifts. 11 May all kings bow before him, all nations serve him. Psalm 72:1-11 12 For he rescues the poor when they cry out, the oppressed who have no one to help. 13 He shows pity to the needy and the poor and saves the lives of the poor. 14 From extortion and violence he redeems them, for precious is their blood in his sight. 15 Long may he live, receiving gold from Sheba, prayed for without cease, blessed day by day. 16 May wheat abound in the land, flourish even on the mountain heights. May his fruit be like that of Lebanon, and flourish in the city like the grasses of the land. 17 May his name be forever; as long as the sun, may his name endure. May the tribes of the earth give blessings with his name; may all the nations regard him as favored. 18 Blessed be the LORD God, the God of Israel, who alone does wonderful deeds. 19 Blessed be his glorious name forever; may he fill all the earth with his glory. Amen and amen.

14 “For it will be like a man going on a journey, who called his servants and entrusted to them his property. 15 To one he gave five talents, to another two, to another one, to each according to his ability. Then he went away. 16 He who had received the five talents went at once and traded with them, and he made five talents more. 17 So also he who had the two talents made two talents more. 18 But he who had received the one talent went and dug in the ground and hid his master’s money.19 Now after a long time the master of those servants came and settled accounts with them. 20 And he who had received the five talents came forward, bringing five talents more, saying, ‘Master, you delivered to me five talents; here, I have made five talents more.’ 21 His master said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant. You have been faithful over a little; I will set you over much. Enter into the joy of your master.’22 And he also who had the two talents came forward, saying, ‘Master, you delivered to me two talents; here, I have made two talents more.’23 His master said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant. You have been faithful over a little; I will set you over much. Enter into the joy of your master.’ 24 He also who had received the one talent came forward, saying, ‘Master, I knew you to be a hard man, reaping where you did not sow, and gathering where you scattered no seed, 25 so I was afraid, and I went and hid your talent in the ground. Here, you have what is yours.’26 But his master answered him, ‘You wicked and slothful servant! You knew that I reap where I have not sown and gather where I scattered no seed? 27 Then you ought to have invested my money with the bankers, and at my coming I should have received what was my own with interest. 28 So take the talent from him and give it to him who has the ten talents. 29 For to everyone who has will more be given, and he will have an abundance. But from the one who has not, even what he has will be taken away. 30 And cast the worthless servant into the outer darkness. In that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.’ Matthew 25:14-30

Section 3
You may wish to be silent for a few minutes.

Section 4
Offer prayer in your own words speaking to God who is for us, with us and in us.