I have been thinking a lot about the 12 Apostles that Jesus called and the significance of the contribution they made to the world. I cannot help but wonder if they could begin to grasp the magnitude of what God was doing through their obedience. Not one of these men, by the standards that this world would use to measure, was either successful or even noteworthy. However, it was through their witness that you and I have heard the gospel proclamation and this because of their willingness to simply obey the Lord’s command to “Go.” They did nothing more than take what God had entrusted to them and use it to glorify Jesus Christ and untold millions have been saved because of their witness.
In Matthew 25:27 we can see the absolute opposite example in the parable of the talents as the Lord Jesus rebukes the “wicked and lazy slave” for squandering the opportunity that had been entrusted to him. There are at least three important lessons that all Christians should learn from this parable about our responsibility to “Be about our Father’s business.”
1. The decision to entrust the talent to the slave was made by the Master, not the slave.
As you read through the Matthew 25:14-30 passage you note that each one was given a different amount or variety of talents according to the way in which each slave had been created. In this is a reality of life that we must come to terms with; God is working out His plan, not mine. I am who I am with the skill, abilities and even shortcomings that I have because that was God’s choice in making me. Perhaps that does not sound like as sexy an explanation as we might care for but it is a fact. God made you who you are for His purposes and who am I to argue about that? In Romans 9:20 Paul writes, “… Who are you, O man, who answers back to God? The thing molded will not say to the Molder, ‘Why did You make me like this?’”
I suppose that from time to time each of us wrestles with who we are and even wishes things were different, but what standard are we using to compare this observation to? How much of your life do you waste considering and even working to manipulate the circumstances in your life that are actually unalterable? What would your life be like if you would just accept you for who you are? By that I am not insinuating that you come to terms with your inner kleptomania (or whatever your “stuff” is) and merrily engage in shoplifting at every opportunity. No, the “Old man” is being taken off, keep going with that! I am talking about those things that you relentlessly beat yourself up over because you have manufactured an ideal of who you should have been rather than being who God made you. May I share with you that the very fact of your conception is God’s testimony to your worth? Therefore, it makes no difference what anyone may say, God has said in creating you that you are the object of His affection.
He has created you with certain skills, abilities, and even circumstances and these have been entrusted to you as if they were talents, what are you doing with them?
2. The decision to make use of the opportunity was made by the slave.
The reasons why people fail to act are endless. The Old Testament book of Proverbs speaks often about laziness, selfishness, greed, and foolishness being contributing factors but I cannot help but imagine that the overarching rationale has much more to do with failing to understand the significance of making the most of the talents that have been entrusted to you. Does anyone really go through life not caring that their moment of time spent here be of some value? Of course many of us neglect fanning the flame that God has put in each of us that seeks to be part and help “the cause” and at some point the fire dies out and the embers grow cold but none of us starts out that way.
The Master entrusted these three slaves with talents and He intended for them to use them not hide them away but to use them as they were intended. In Colossians 3:23-24 Paul encourages us that, “Whatever you do, do your work heartily, as for the Lord rather than for men; knowing that from the Lord you will receive the reward of inheritance. It is the Lord Christ whom you serve.” It really makes no difference what the talents that you have been given are, you were not called to evaluate either the talent or the plan which God is working out but to take that which you have been made steward over and seek to glorify Jesus with it.
I wonder if we might not sometimes forget that the talents always belonged to the Master just as the very person of the slave also belonged to Him. Paul also says in 1 Corinthians 7:23, “You were bought with a price; do not become slaves of men.” The Master’s slaves had no right to neglect the gainful use of the talents to further the estate of the Master; however, they had been made stewards and as such were given the choice as to what they would do with the talents.
You have a decision to make as to what you will do with what has been entrusted.
3. There are consequences for failing to act.
In Colossians 3:25 Paul punctuates his remarks on the slaves responsibility by warning, “For he who does wrong will receive the consequences of the wrong which he has done, and that without partiality.” Unquestionable, God controls all; Scripture is very clear about that. Yet simultaneously, our actions have real and lasting consequences. To disregard this truth is to abuse God’s Revelation of Himself.
You will suffer personal consequences for failing to act as we see illustrated in James 4:2b, “…You do not have because you do not ask.” Specifically James is referring to prayer but the principle is universal, God has decided that oxygen is a requirement for life, and it will take 365 days for the earth to go around the sun, and He has also decided that your actions or lack thereof will produce results and consequences. If you fail to pray, you will find no eternal success in your efforts regardless of how well conceived your plans may be. If you choose to eat too much it is probably going to have negative effects on your health. Your failing to use your talents is going to bring about personal consequences both now and in the world not yet seen.
You, however, will not be the only one who suffers for the hiding away of your talents. In Acts 27 we find Paul onboard a ship making its way toward Italy, where he was to stand before Cesar and contrary to his wise council to stay in Fair Havens the ship’s captain sailed right into a devastating storm that would ultimately destroy the ship. In the midst of that storm all onboard began to despair and Paul encouraged them that they would live through this ordeal. However, as the ship neared Malta some of the sailors tried to flee in a lifeboat and Paul said to the centurion in verse 31, “Unless these men remain in the ship, you yourselves cannot be saved.” The actions, and by implication inaction, of these men and all of us for that matter have consequences.
The consequences of the men leaving the ship would have been death to the others, and the consequences of the lazy slave hiding the talent was a dishonoring of the Master and actually the illumination of what he really was; a lost sinner. There are also consequences for you choosing to hide the talent God has entrusted to you. Today, you can live out your faith by taking what God has entrusted to your care and using it to the fullest and in so doing, glorify your Master and benefit our world. This is what the disciples did and that is why you have heard about the Lord Jesus Christ, what might God do with your service?
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