Hammer on Anvil '

To begin today's blog,  let's look at the parable of the talents in Matthew 25:14-30. The first part of the chapter is the parable of the foolish virgins who are not prepared to meet the Bridegroom when He comes. Then Jesus says:

It’s also like a man going off on an extended trip. He called his servants together and delegated responsibilities. To one he gave five thousand dollars, to another two thousand, to a third one thousand, depending on their abilities. Then he left. Right off, the first servant went to work and doubled his master’s investment. The second did the same. But the man with the single thousand dug a hole and carefully buried his master’s money.

After a long absence, the master of those three servants came back and settled up with them. The one given five thousand dollars showed him how he had doubled his investment. His master commended him: “Good work! You did your job well. From now on be my partner.”

The servant with the two thousand showed how he also had doubled his master’s investment. His master commended him: “Good work! You did your job well. From now on be my partner.”

The servant given one thousand said, “Master, I know you have high standards and hate careless ways, that you demand the best and make no allowances for error. I was afraid I might disappoint you, so I found a good hiding place and secured your money. Here it is, safe and sound down to the last cent.”

The master was furious. “That’s a terrible way to live! It’s criminal to live cautiously like that! If you knew I was after the best, why did you do less than the least? The least you could have done would have been to invest the sum with the bankers, where at least I would have gotten a little interest.”

“Take the thousand and give it to the one who risked the most. And get rid of this “play-it-safe” who won’t go out on a limb. Throw him out into utter darkness.”

Yikes. It's hard to read these words without asking yourself, Am I one of the "play-it-safe" servants? And I must confess that yes, I have spent a great deal of my Christian life playing it safe.  

Addressing the parable of the talents in Matthew 25:14-30, J.I. Packer says the following:

“For what Christ has given us to use must be put to use; it is not enough simply to hide it away. We may apply this to our stewardship of the gospel. The truth about salvation has been made known to us, not for us simply to preserve (though we must certainly do that), but also, and primarily, for us to spread. The light is not meant to be hidden under the bushel. It is meant to shine; and it is our business to see that it shines. He who does not devote himself to evangelism in every way that he can is not, therefore, playing the part of a good and faithful servant of Jesus Christ.”

Yikes again. If we hide our light under a bushel, if we do not devote ourselves to sharing Jesus in every way we can, we are like the "play-it-safe" whom the master throws into utter darkness. And I don't think this applies only to sharing our faith. God has given each of us gifts for the sole purpose of furthering His kingdom. If we don't utilize those gifts, we are not faithful servants.

If you're not sure what I'm talking about when I say we have all been given gifts, read 1 Corinthians 12 and Romans 12. They both mention different spiritual gifts and how they are to be used to build up the Body of Christ. Peter tells us, "Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others, as faithful stewards of God's grace in its various forms" (1 Peter 4:10).

I'd like to challenge you today to meditate on the parable of the talents. Which of the three servants best describes you and your walk with God right now?

We all stand in need of improvement. If you've never even thought of yourself as having any spiritual gifts, ask the Holy Spirit to open your eyes. Ask Him how you can be of service to Him and the people He has placed strategically in your sphere of influence. I guarantee He will use you. All He needs is a vessel yielded completely to Him.