“The kingdom of heaven is like a man who was leaving on a trip. He called his servants and handed his possessions over to them. To one he gave five valuable coins, and to another he gave two, and to another he gave one. He gave to each servant according to that servant’s ability. Then he left on his journey. “After the man left, the servant who had five valuable coins took them and went to work doing business with them. He gained five more. In the same way, the one who had two valuable coins gained two more. But the servant who had received the one valuable coin dug a hole in the ground and buried his master’s money. “Now after a long time the master of those servants returned and settled accounts with them. The one who had received five valuable coins came forward with five additional coins. He said, ‘Master, you gave me five valuable coins. Look, I’ve gained five more.’ “His master replied, ‘Excellent! You are a good and faithful servant! You’ve been faithful over a little. I’ll put you in charge of much. Come, celebrate with me.’ “The second servant also came forward and said, ‘Master, you gave me two valuable coins. Look, I’ve gained two more.’ “His master replied, ‘Well done! You are a good and faithful servant. You’ve been faithful over a little. I’ll put you in charge of much. Come, celebrate with me.’ “Now the one who had received one valuable coin came and said, ‘Master, I knew that you are a hard man. You harvest grain where you haven’t sown. You gather crops where you haven’t spread seed. So I was afraid. And I hid my valuable coin in the ground. Here, you have what’s yours.’ “His master replied, ‘You evil and lazy servant! You knew that I harvest grain where I haven’t sown and that I gather crops where I haven’t spread seed? In that case, you should have turned my money over to the bankers so that when I returned, you could give me what belonged to me with interest. Therefore, take from him the valuable coin and give it to the one who has ten coins. Those who have much will receive more, and they will have more than they need. But as for those who don’t have much, even the little bit they have will be taken away from them. Now take the worthless servant and throw him out into the farthest darkness.’ “People there will be weeping and grinding their teeth. (Matthew 25:14-30, CEB)
This passage is not about prosperity and those who have more will always get more. If this is true, then who is God in the parable? Normally we can look at parables and say God is one of the characters, but I am really uncomfortable saying that the master is God, because the servant with one talent says the master reaps where he doesn’t sow, so the master is crooked, and God is not crooked.
God could be the servant with one talent. But I am not sure how that works either.
So what is this about?
All of us are gifted with something for the betterment of the kindom. Do we use it or do we hide it?
Do you use the gifts God has given you or are you afraid to?
One of my biggest fears is leading people astray. Luke 17:2 says, “ It would be better for them to be thrown into a lake with a large stone hung around their neck than to cause one of these little ones to trip and fall into sin.” And I worry as a pastor what I say will be wrong and will lead people astray. It is not a fear that keeps me from doing what I have been gifted to do, but it is something that I am aware of and know could happen.
But in that, I am compelled by loved. If by loving more deeply than I should I lead someone astray I am willing to take what comes. If by loving more deeply than I should I help someone not commit suicide and that causes issues for me I am willing to take what comes.
I believe we are called to love more deeply and love the world and not just those like us.
Do you use you gift or hide it?
Loving People. Loving God.
aSacredRebel 