Using all you’ve got

We spoke about the Sefer Hachinuch’s explanation for the prohibition against wanton destruction – baal tashchis – that everything given to us by Hashem has a purpose and ought to be used for that purpose. That this applies in the context of baal tashchis is sure, but it also applies to wasting talents that we may have. The medrash tells of Navos, who was killed by Achav. The medrash asks; How did Hashem allow Achav to kill Navos, why didn’t He protect him? The medrash answers that Navos was called “Navos” because his voice was as beautiful as a harp, a Naval. Every year Navos used to go up to the Beis Hamikdash and sing, and this brought honor to Hashem. One year he failed to go. That year Achav was allowed to kill him.