Should you learn a musical instrument for your church?

J.C. Ryle used to worry about people misreading the Parable of the Talents: “The word ‘talents’ is an expression that has been curiously turned aside from its original meaning. It is generally applied to none but people of remarkable ability or gifts: they are called ‘talented’ people. Such a use of the expression is a mere modern invention. In the sense in which our Lord used the word in this parable, it applies to all baptised persons without distinction. We all have ‘talents’ in God’s sight: we are all talented people.”

I think those last five words are crucial for any Christian to ponder, but it is especially helpful in how we think about musical talent.

First, it reminds the conspicuously talented church musician that their talent is one gift among many given by a gracious God to His people. There is no room for pride or being puffed up among the people of God (cf. 1 Corinthians).

Second, remember that musical talent isn’t this unattainable superpower that God zaps on only a few Christians. It is no accident that Jesus uses a unit of currency as the main plot device in this parable. Jesus wants us to see talent as something needing time, attention and investment. Modern neuroscience corroborates that the single most important ingredient to musical aptitude is time spent practising, not any innate pre-existing ability. If you are at a church where musicians are in short supply, perhaps God has placed this burden on your heart to prompt you to invest in nurturing a musical talent of your own.

My wife and I have been encouraged by a young man we know through our summer camp. For various reasons, he isn’t able to work, but it has meant he has had the time to sit at his church’s organ and work out how to play it. With lots of encouragement from his church family over a couple of years or so, he’s gone from having never played an instrument of any kind to where he can lead the hymns at a service.

Perhaps this could be you as well. The resources to learn to play music have never been more plentiful. With YouTube you can master an awful lot without even needing a teacher. We are all talented people. Maybe this summer could be the time to invest in nurturing a new one.