Matthew 25:14-30 is the story of the talents. The master gave talents (money) to three servants to use while he was gone. They were to do something with it. They could decide how to use it. Two of the three used it to increase the amount by the time the master returned. The third servant was scared and hid the talents he'd been given so there was no gain or loss. The master was mad, saying he'd wasted the talents because even putting it in the bank would have earned some money. The part of the story that I usually focus on is in verses 21 and again verse 23 where the first two servants are praised. ".....You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things....." and verse 29a "For everyone who has will be given more, and he will have an abundance." I've been a little scared of the part where now the servants are in charge of many things.....oh, the pressure!
But then I noticed the second half of verse 29. Verse 29b says: "Whoever does not have, even what he has will be taken from him." Oh, dear. This is worse than the added pressure of being given more responsibility. Now, what I started with may be taken away. You've heard the line "use it, or lose it". It could have come from this parable.
When we study this parable, we generally think of the word "talents" as meaning money. Of course, in this parable that is what is meant. If we look at the word talent as talents, gifts, abilities, responsibilities, we learn that we must use everything that God gives us or we face losing it. God gives some of us a big income. That means we better use that money for God's good works. If God gives us the gift of a great singing voice, we should use and nurture it for God's glory. If God gives us the gift of persuasion, we should use that to bring people to Christ. Whatever you have, you should use. If you don't use it, you might lose it. "For everyone who has will be given more, and he will have an abundance. Whoever does not have, even what he has will be taken from him."
As I am writing this, I wonder if that is why I lost my job a year ago. Did I have something that I was not using responsibly? If so, what was it? I'm not sure how to figure that out. Is it possible that losing my job has nothing to do with this parable? Perhaps there is a different reason I lost my job, maybe to start this blog? Maybe to spend more time with God? I'm certainly doing that, and loving it I might add. But shouldn't I examine how I used my talents, my responsibilities, my gifts and money to determine if it was taken from me because I used it like the third, "wicked, lazy servant"? During the last many years, the amount of responsibility kept increasing. I was asked to do more and more. I had a great amount of responsibility at one point. Then it was taken away bit by bit over several months, then completely taken away. What was I not using right? In what way was I a wicked, lazy servant? I wish I knew the answer to that. I can't recall anything that I neglected, or did poorly that could be equated with the third servant. Well, then let's look at my abilities. I can still organize, make decisions, write, etc. I can't think of any abilities that have been lost. Perhaps, my job loss has nothing to do with this parable. I need to examine that to make sure. Perhaps, my job loss has to do with closing one door to open another. Only God knows that and if he's telling, I've missed it so far.
God, Self-examination is hard. To be objective and evaluate oneself is hard work, maybe even impossible at the core. Help me, God, to see what I was misusing, and perhaps am still misusing. I want to use what You have graciously given me as You would have me use it. Guide me through the process of self-examination for an honest assessment. I want to be what you want me to be. I want to be the servant who hears "Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master's happiness!" Amen.
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