We often look to the Parable of the Talents as encouragement to make proper use of our talents. Something stood out to me in a recent reading of this parable:

“For the kingdom of heaven is like a man traveling to a far country, who called his own servants and delivered his goods to them… And I was afraid, and went and hid your talent in the ground. Look, there you have what is yours” (Matt. 25:14, 25, emphasis mine – HR).

Notice, the goods/talents given to the servants remained the master’s property even when they were in the servants’ possession and use. The blessings, talents, gifts, privileges, opportunities, etc., we think are ours really belong to God, and we will have to give an account for how we have used them.