Today’s Reference: Matthew 25:14-25 (NKJV)
14 “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. 15 And to one he gave five talents, to another two, and to another one, to each according to his own ability; and immediately he went on a journey. 16 Then he who had received the five talents went and traded with them, and made another five talents. 17 And likewise he who had received two gained two more also. 18 But he who had received one went and dug in the ground, and hid his lord’s money. 19 After a long time the lord of those servants came and settled accounts with them.20 “So he who had received five talents came and brought five other talents, saying, ‘Lord, you delivered to me five talents; look, I have gained five more talents besides them.’ 21 His lord said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant; you were faithful over a few things, I will make you ruler over many things. Enter into the joy of your lord.’ 22 He also who had received two talents came and said, ‘Lord, you delivered to me two talents; look, I have gained two more talents besides them.’ 23 His lord said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant; you have been faithful over a few things, I will make you ruler over many things. Enter into the joy of your lord.’24 “Then he who had received the one talent came and said, ‘Lord, I knew you to be a hard man, reaping where you have not sown, and gathering where you have not scattered seed. 25 And I was afraid, and went and hid your talent in the ground. Look, there you have what is yours.’
Song: N. B. Sargent
The treasures of earth are not mine I hold not it’s silver or gold
But a treasure far greater is mine, I have riches of value untold.
Chorus: Oh, the depth of the riches of love, the riches of love in Christ Jesus,
Far better than gold or wealth untold are the riches of love in Christ Jesus.
When we receive gifts, sometimes the value we place on them is measured by the cost, the size, or the giver of the gift. Rightly or wrongly so, it happens. The Scriptures declare that we have been given all things for life and godliness (2 Peter 1: 1-4). The Giver, God, provides all that we need in order to be successful in life. Success does not necessarily mean having a surplus of material goods. It means contentment, in whatever state we find ourselves. It means that we strive towards our goal, pursuing our God-given dreams as we give God first place in our life. (Matthew 6:33). Then, we will be complete.
In Matthew 25, we read the story of a rich man who went out traveling. He considered his servants to be trustworthy enough to transact business on his behalf, in his absence. I wonder if it had ever crossed his mind that they could disappear with his stuff. He had both the means and the wherewithal to find them if they did. He doled out money based on the ability and temperaments of the servants. Did they even wonder why he trusted them? No one could truthfully say they got nothing. This man had plans to increase his resources. He gave no instructions as to what they should do with the money. I guess he trusted their common sense so he gave the money and left. What confidence!
Now they became business partners and as such they were expected to invest and gain some returns on his investment. After a long enough time for them to be profitable, he returned. The workers had been given the resources they needed: money and time. These valuable commodities were at their disposal. As partners, they could have been aggressive in their efforts.
On the boss’ return, he was exceptionally pleased with the servants who proved themselves to be productive. On the other hand, his displeasure with the third servant was expressed in no uncertain terms. The master called him wicked, lazy, and inconsiderate. This employee was deeply disrespectful to his boss. He not only had nothing substantive, but he also had a mouth. We are told to honor those who are over us. (Colossians 3:22). Bold-facedly, he called his boss hardhearted, deceitful and a thief. He then acknowledged that fear overpowered him and inhibited him from using what he had been given.
In hoarding what he was given, he not only shortchanged himself, but also, his boss. No-one gained anything from his being inconsiderate. This resulted in his suffering the consequences. He was disinherited, shamed, and given a reality check. The boss expected the employees to be industrious. They were given the tools whereby they could be creative in using both their head and their hands.
God has given to each of us gifts to bring about completeness or perfection in the body of Christ. If we consider the One who has gifted us, we will value the gift so much in that we will use it for His glory, and for sharpening each other. If we say we have no gift, we dishonor God and disappoint Him. He, our Creator, knows what He has endowed us with, and He says that our gifts make room for us. We have seen autistic children, who at a glance, we expect them to sit in a corner and do repetitive movements. Yet our experiences have shown that they can do amazing things.
Adam (in Genesis), was a farmer who named every creature at the beginning of time. He was busy with agriculture, yet he found the time to commune with God, daily. What brain power God entrusted him with! Whatever he named any creature that is what it was called. (Genesis 2:19)
Usually, when we think of Moses, in Exodus, we refer to the rod he had in his hand. Yet, Moses was given something that surpassed that rod. It was the word of faith. (Exodus 10:1). He believed whatever God told him and so he repeated it to Pharaoh. He stood before that great king and did not flinch from sharing Jehovah’s message. He told Pharaoh things that he himself had not experienced before. Yet, because he trusted the I AM, he spoke, and things changed for the Israelites.
At first, Moses was fearful when he focused on Pharaoh instead of on the One who sent him. He thought about Pharaoh’s position and power and deemed himself inadequate to approach a king. The wrong focus and emphasis will cause us to diminish the gift God has given us. In so doing, we miss opportunities to accomplish what God has preordained for us to experience. That same word of faith is in our mouth if we choose to say, believe, and practice what the Word says about us. When we confess that Jesus is Lord and believe in His resurrection, we are saved. Why then should we speak things that are contrary to faith?
Seasoned fishermen were also given a word and as a result, their boats could not contain the fish they caught. They had to solicit other boats to help. (Luke 5:4 -7). They had exhausted their efforts and even tried to convince Jesus that there were no fish there. At Jesus’ word, they resolved, “Nevertheless, at Thy word…” . Miraculous things happen when we do His word.
There are so many things that our ancestral faith believers had not experienced before. Yet, they trusted God to do the impossible: Moses had not challenged a king. (Exodus 7 :1-6); Elisha had never seen an axe head float. (2 Kings 6 :1-6); The disciples had never seen water turned to wine. (John 2:3-9). Those feats were accomplished through faith and obedience. To each of us has been given a measure of faith (Romans 12:3). The way that it is used, is dependent on us.
Saint Paul lists some spiritual gifts that have been given in 1 Corinthians 12: wisdom, knowledge, faith, healing, the working of miracles, prophecy, discernment, tongues, and interpretation of tongues. Also, there are apostles, prophets, teachers, helps and governments in the church. God is orderly and expects us to function decently and orderly. No use of any good gift should be minimized. We need each other. Interdependence knows no status. It thrives on unity and the bond of peace.
The Samaritan woman was given a thought: if you knew the gift of God … (John 4:10). She chewed on Jesus’s words although she did not understand all that He said. Her misgivings were that: Society had placed her in a lower class. Her gender should not rise to any occasion. Her profession (prostitute) demoralized her. Jesus had no vessel for Himself. Little did she realize that she was His vessel.
Nothing that she reasoned was a lie. They were all facts. Those facts were reasonable excuses why she could have kept the Good News to herself. Yet, Jesus’s words pierced beyond her very understanding and propelled her to do the unacceptable. Facts held her captive until she decided to break free. The result was that her city was impacted for the greater good. She used what she had been given.
At the Gate Beautiful, Peter and John demonstrated that principle. In telling the beggar that they had no money, they eclipsed that reality, by saying what they had. They gave him a path to make his own money. He would no longer need to beg. (Acts 3:1-9)
Maybe, life has given us disappointments, rejection, unemployment, unforeseen circumstances, and tears all on a silver platter. What can we do with those? We can either choose to drown in despair or use those circumstances to draw close to God and trust His keeping.
Ephesians 4:1-8 (NKJV)
I, therefore, the prisoner [a]of the Lord, [b]beseech you to walk worthy of the calling with which you were called, 2 with all lowliness and gentleness, with longsuffering, bearing with one another in love, 3 endeavoring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. 4 There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called in one hope of your calling; 5 one Lord, one faith, one baptism; 6 one God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in [c]you all. 7 But to each one of us grace was given according to the measure of Christ’s gift. 8 Therefore He says: “When He ascended on high, He led captivity captive, And gave gifts to men.”
Jesus made provisions for us before He returned to heaven. He set some things in place: He defeated death, promised the coming of the Holy Spirit, promised to go and prepare a place for believers, and He gave gifts to men.
Most importantly, do we recognize what we have really been given? The body and blood of Jesus, God’s Son, have been given to us and with that, abundant blessings. Do we realize the treasure we have in Him? Will we use that treasure in its fullness? God expects us to be godly and content. Does that mean that we do not strive towards things? No, it does not! To be consumed with what we lack, zaps our energy. Instead, find your niche and ask God to help you to master it.
As we seek to motivate ourselves and others, may our motive be to impact the world for Christ, thus glorifying Him. We are fearfully and wonderfully made, (Psalms 139 :14) to fellowship with God .(Genesis 1:26; John 2:8-9) He will show us the path of life so, to whom will we turn when we have discrepancies?
The widow’s oil created a lucrative business because, in obedience, she used what she had. (2 Kings 4:1-2) At the onset, she stated several facts: Her husband died. He served faithfully in church. She was in debt. The bill collectors were threatening even her sons. That was her reality. She was living in the moment, but Elisha redirected her, so she could focus on what she had. It is alright to state what we lack if we follow up with what we do have. Too many times we stop at what we lack. When we use what we have, we place the emphasis on God, because whatever we have comes from Him.
What do we do with what we have been given? Take time out to figure out how to glorify God with it. Be specific. How can those gifts /talents/problems be used to exalt God? When we work for God, He writes our paychecks. Yes, those can be cashed in, in the form of favor, perseverance, and blessings. (Psalm 115:11-15). Decide to use what you have been given?We can expect to hear Him say, “Well done.”
Dr. O. A. James