Work: Talents and Abilities

14 Grade 8 Religious Education (CRE) questions on Work: Talents and Abilities, with worked marking schemes. 14 questions are available on this topic in full.

1. Question 1

   1 mark

   After reading the Parable of the Talents, a learner who is gifted in singing wonders how to use her gift. According to Matthew 25:14-30, what does the parable teach about God-given abilities?

   A. Hide your talents to keep them safe

   B. Use and multiply the abilities God has entrusted to you faithfully

   C. Talents only matter if you earn money from them

   D. Only adults are accountable for their talents

   (1 mark)

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2. Question 2

   1 mark

   Paul told the Thessalonians, "If a man will not work, he shall not eat." By this Paul was teaching against

   A. earning wages

   B. laziness and idleness

   C. farming

   D. working on the Sabbath

   (1 mark)

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3. Question 3

   6 marks

   After listening to a sermon on the Parable of the Talents (Matthew 25:14-30), a young Christian wondered how to use the abilities God had given her.

   (a) Explain three lessons Christians learn from the Parable of the Talents about using their abilities. (3 marks)

   (b) Identify three ways a Grade 8 learner can use her God-given talents responsibly. (3 marks)

   (6 marks)

   Marking scheme

   (a) Lessons from the Parable of the Talents (any three): - God gives every person gifts/abilities and expects them to be used, not buried or wasted (Matthew 25:15-18). - Christians should be faithful and hardworking with what God has given them (Matthew 25:21). - We will give an account to God for how we use our talents (Matthew 25:19). - Faithfulness in small things leads to greater responsibility and reward - 'Well done, good and faithful servant' (Matthew 25:21). - Laziness and fear of taking risks displease God (Matthew 25:26-27). (b) Ways a learner can use her talents responsibly (any three): - Participating in school activities such as music, sports, drama or debate to develop her gifts. - Helping fellow learners who are weak in subjects she is good at. - Using her talents to serve in church, e.g. singing in the choir or leading youth activities. - Working hard in her studies to develop her abilities for future service. - Using her skills to help her family and community.

4. Question 4

   6 marks

   Read the scenario: Two brothers inherit a shamba (farm) from their father. One works hard to cultivate it while the other refuses to work and idles in town.

   (a) Using Christian teaching on work, explain who acts rightly and why.

   (b) State three values of hard work taught in the Bible.

   (6 marks)

   Marking scheme

   (a) (3 marks): The brother who cultivates the shamba acts rightly because the Bible teaches that work is God-given and dignified, and that people should use their resources and abilities productively rather than being idle (as in 2 Thessalonians, 'if a man will not work he shall not eat', and the Parable of the Talents). (b) Any 3 (1 mark each): work provides for one's needs/family; hard work brings dignity and self-respect; work enables one to help the needy/share with others; work develops God-given talents; idleness leads to temptation and sin; work glorifies God/is obedience to God's command.

5. Question 5

   4 marks

   The Bible teaches that all honest work has dignity. Explain four reasons why work is important according to Christian teaching.

   (4 marks)

   Marking scheme

   Any 4 (1 mark each): work enables people to provide for themselves and their families; work is a way of using and developing the talents God has given; work allows people to serve God and others; work gives a person dignity, purpose and self-respect; through work Christians can earn to share with and help the needy; work continues God's own activity of creation/stewardship; honest work keeps one from idleness and temptation.

6. Question 6

   1 mark

   In the Parable of the Talents, the reward given to the faithful servants who multiplied their talents was that they were

   A. allowed to rest permanently

   B. made rulers of foreign nations

   C. given a large sum of gold

   D. put in charge of many things and shared their master's happiness

   (1 mark)

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7. Question 7

   1 mark

   A learner studied the parable of the talents in Matthew 25. What did the master say to the servant who buried his one talent in the ground instead of using it?

   A. A. 'Well done, good and faithful servant'

   B. B. 'You wicked and lazy servant'

   C. C. 'Take your rest, you have done enough'

   D. D. 'I will give you ten more talents'

   (1 mark)

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8. Question 8

   1 mark

   Mwangi has money and time but chooses to relax while his neighbours struggle to build a community water project. The Parable of the Talents would challenge Mwangi to realize that

   A. talents include time and resources that should be used for good, not left unused

   B. talents are only for church work

   C. only wealthy people have talents

   D. he should give his money to the master

   (1 mark)

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9. Question 9

   1 mark

   In the Parable of the Talents, the servant who was condemned by his master was the one who

   A. invested two talents and gained two more

   B. gave his talent away to the poor

   C. buried his one talent in the ground

   D. invested five talents and gained five more

   (1 mark)

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10. Question 10

    6 marks

    During a class discussion, learners read the Parable of the Talents that Jesus told (Matthew 25:14-30), in which a master gave his servants different amounts of money before going on a journey.

    (a) Describe what each of the three servants did with the money entrusted to them. (3 marks)

    (b) State three lessons Christians learn from this parable about using their talents and abilities. (3 marks)

    (6 marks)

    Marking scheme

    (a) What each servant did: - The servant given five talents traded with them and gained five more, making ten (Matthew 25:16, 20). - The servant given two talents also worked and gained two more, making four (Matthew 25:17, 22). - The servant given one talent was afraid, dug a hole and hid the money in the ground, gaining nothing (Matthew 25:18, 24-25). (b) Three lessons (any three): - God gives every person abilities/talents and expects them to be used productively, not wasted. - Christians should be hardworking, faithful and responsible with what God has given them. - We will give an account to God for how we use our talents (Matthew 25:19). - Faithfulness in small things is rewarded with greater responsibility (Matthew 25:21, 23). - Laziness and fear that prevent us from using our gifts are condemned (Matthew 25:26-30).

11. Question 11

    4 marks

    God has given every person different talents and abilities. State four ways in which young people can identify and develop their talents.

    (4 marks)

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12. Question 12

    1 mark

    The Parable of the Talents teaches Christians that they should

    A. hide their abilities to stay humble

    B. give all their money to their masters

    C. use and develop the abilities God has given them

    D. only work when they are being watched

    (1 mark)

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13. Question 13

    1 mark

    A learner who is gifted in singing decides to join the school choir and train hard to improve. This best illustrates the Christian principle of

    A. developing and using God-given talents

    B. burying one's talent

    C. working only for a reward

    D. competing to defeat others

    (1 mark)

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14. Question 14

    1 mark

    According to the Bible, work was ordained by God from the beginning, for even before the fall Adam was placed in the Garden of Eden to

    A. rest and do nothing

    B. build a temple

    C. tend and take care of it

    D. rule over other people

    (1 mark)

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