Alternate Plans
Bible Order: Lev 24–25
Chronological Order: Exod 27–28

 

What Have You Done With Your Talent?

Matthew 25:1–30

There are two parables in today’s reading and of course they are related.  The first is the Parable of the Ten Virgins, and the second is the Parable of the Talents; both are about being ready when Jesus returns to establish His Kingdom.  In the first parable ten virgins take their lamps to wait for the bridegroom.  Five of them were wise and brought extra oil while the other five were foolish and did not bring oil.  You know the story; the foolish five run out of oil and leave to go get more.  While they are gone the bridegroom comes and those five are left out of the marriage feast.

Oil in the Bible is often a symbol for God’s Holy Spirit.  This parable seems to be saying that there are those who pretend to be children of God but are not really since they do not have His Holy Spirit.  These individuals could be like those in Jesus’ earlier parable of the Sower where those who are the seed sown on rocky ground and seed sown among the thorns, fall away or are choked (Matthew 13:1-23).  Following Jesus is not easy and if you have not truly submitted your life to Him you will not be able to withstand the persecutions and hardships that will come.  If you are one of these individuals your light will go out because your lamp is filled with something other than God’s Holy Spirit.

Those of you who have read this blog for a time know that the parable of the talents is one of my favorites because it speaks to how a follower of Jesus Christ should act.  In this parable the master has given his servants responsibilities based on their abilities.  He is not expecting more from them than they can achieve.  Now I love the fact that while the word “talent” in this parable refers to money, in English it refers to a person’s abilities.  Of course, this parable applies to our money as well as our abilities so I just love how that word works as a double-entendre (look it up).

Each of these servants were given a portion of money and told to use it profitably.  The first two not only invested the talents but doubled the sum.  They earned a 100% profit!  They were truly fruitful.  The third fellow was given the least amount to work with and he did nothing with the talent he had.  Oh he returned to the master what he was given, but the master would have had a better return if he had simply put the money in the bank.  In this sense returning what was given him was actually a loss.

Okay, now the uncomfortable part, personal application.  What talents has God given you?  He has given you an income, are you tithing?  He has given you talents, are you using them to His purpose and glory?  You may not be able to stand up in front of a church and preach the Gospel, few are given this ability and responsibility, but God has given you some abilities and He didn’t intend for you to hide them in the dirt.  Are you being fruitful?  Are you using what He has given you?  Maybe you feel that what He has given you is closer to the one talent than the ten, but still, are you using it or burying it?

Brothers, I feel at times like our churches are dying on the vine because a vast majority of Christians have buried their talents in the dirt.  You’ve heard of the 80/20 rule haven’t you?  That is the idea that 20 percent of the church members do 80 percent of the work.  This concept is way off.  I only wish the real numbers were that good!  The sad thing here is that it isn’t just the church or the lost that are hurt by this.  Those who bury their talents are not living the fullness of life Christ came to give them.  The ones who use their talents for God’s purposes will hear “Well done good and faithful servant”; those who don’t will hear “You wicked and slothful servant!”

So, let me ask you, what are you doing with your talent?

Have a blessed day!

Your brother and servant in Christ,

Bill

Dying to self, living to serve!