Mathew 25:14-30
Have
you ever been called worthless or useless? Has someone ever told you
that you were good for nothing in this world? Comments like that hurt
and can bring a person down to a major low in life. Now imagine if God
was to tell you that? Imagine seeing God face to face, this all powerful
and absolute being tell you that you were a wicked and worthless
servant. Now talk about demeaning. This type of comment would be a major
blow to someone's self esteem.
In
Mathew 25:14-30 Jesus tells a parable about 3 people getting a measure
of money (called a talent) from their boss. Now the amount given is not
important, but the importance lies in what the people did with the
money. Two of these individuals took the money and invested it. It was a
risky task but it paid off because they doubled the money for their
boss. The other individual was full of fear for doing something wrong,
instead of investing the money he hid it to keep it safe. The reason why
he was afraid was because his boss was known to be a hard person. He
didn't want to screw anything up. So long story short, when the boss
called the three people back he was pleased with the first two people
who invested and made a profit. He actually rewarded them for what they
did; however, the last individual was not as lucky. He was punished
because he did absolutely nothing with what he was given. He was called
wicked and lazy; as a result the boss fired him. Can you see the picture
that I'm beginning to draw?
In
this specific parable Jesus was not talking about mere money. He was
trying to teach us a lesson. What was that lesson? It was that God gives
us these abilities or "talents". Everyone has them; some are teachers,
comedians, cooks, etc. Everyone is good at something and this is what
God gives us. GOd does not want us to do nothing with these gifts. He
doesn't want to sit around and waste them by either not using them, or
by applying them for our own selfish needs. On the contrary, there is a
purpose for our gifts and talents: it is to further the kingdom of God.
It is to help people and empower them to either seek God out or realize
that he is there. Talents like laughter can literally save a person's
life. One smile can convince a person thinking of suicided that there is
more meaning to life. It can help them see the significance or even the
value of their own existence. Sometimes we fall into the character of
the third man in the parable. We get scared and fearful that if we put
ourselves out there and use our talents for GOd we will mess up and ruin
everything. Other times we are just scared to even try. Its not wrong
to be afraid, but it Is wrong to let that fear control us. If we fall
into this, we end up wasting our lives and doing nothing productive for
it. We have gifts for a reason: gifts are meant to give to others. Now
imagine God saying to you 'You are wicked and lazy because you wasted
what I gave you'. That is something no one wants to hear.
On
the other hand, if we do use our gifts for God, we take a risk that
tends to work out. No where in this parable does anyone try and fail.
They always try and succeed. The two individuals doubled their earnings
and they were given more as a reward. Likewise, when we give our talents
to God and use them he blesses us immensely. I think of one girl in
particular who has a great personality and heart. Her talent is making
little pens and art products. She is also a good sales person. She is
using these gifts to sell little products so she can build a well in
Haiti. While in the process of doing this, she was contacted by other
organizations that will double the money she makes.
Using
your talents is risky and fearful, but God is not going to leave you
hanging. He is going to help you and while you are doing it, he is going
to blow you away with how he is going to multiply it.
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