St. Paul tells the people of Thessalonica “to work with your own hands.” The master in the Parable of the Talents expects his servants to do the work which will make his investment grow. As people of faith we rely on God’s grace and providence in the world. But the Bible is clear that God gives us gifts and we are supposed to cooperate with grace in making this world more godly. St. Paul reminds us that gifts are given for a purpose. When facing a natural disaster like the flooding in Texas some might see “an act of God.” The Biblical perspective, rather, is that we must use our gifts and talents — in careful zoning, in care for the environment — to prevent such tragedies.
