In the last week or more, I’ve heard or read the parable of the talents, Mt. 25:14-30, several times, twice today alone. Finally, God got through to my heart. The talent was a measure of money, but I believe we can see it as whatever resources that we’ve been given. That could be time, relationships, gifts, talents, money, and whatever we have of value in our hand to give away.
First, I thought of one of my children, when he was little. Every Christmas, he would be so happy with his gift, that is until his older brothers opened theirs. Then, he would cry and wanted nothing to do with his own gift anymore. He, of course doesn’t do this anymore, though we may kid him about it. We too are often happy with our gifts and talents, until we see someone else with what we perceive as a better gift. That may be fear or insecurity. It may be envy. We need seek God, repent of those things, and ask him to set our heart right.
Second, the servants with five and two talents invested what they were given to multiply them. That may look different to different people and situations. It may require time, education, or financial investment to multiply. How are we investing our master’s resources? This ties right into the third point.
Everything that is placed in our hands, is multiplied by giving it away. We have received from God to give to others. Whatever we have, in whatever measure can be given away, to mature the body of Christ, and to see the kingdom of God expanded. God has pointed me in the direction of many things in the creative. Many years ago, he told me that I was an artist. This was long before there was any evidence of such. A few years later, I would be pushed into that direction for survival. Wounds from childhood and adulthood collided in a traumatic marital situation. God gave me art to express and transport myself when I found myself breaking. That has opened doors for me to share the medicinal qualities of art, and the love and healing of God. Well meaning people have told me that art is a luxury for people who have time and money. I have struggled with many things regarding the gifts that God has given me. I have questioned their worth, and legitimacy, and my worth and legitimacy. The enemy has used numerous circumstances, people, and my own mind have come against the call of God on my life. Be prepared to fight for what God says that he has for you. What are the arguments that the enemy has used to get you to bury your talents?
In Mk. 10:17-22, we read about the wealthy man who went away sad after Jesus told him to sell everything he had, then give it to the poor. He tells his people in vs. 29-30 that whatever we give will come back to us. It will be returned 100 times as much, in this age and the one to come, with persecutions. Why does it come back? It comes back multiplied, so we can give it away again and again. Whatever our resources are, whatever is in our hands to give, give it and enjoy giving it! We know that God loves a cheerful giver.
Finally, there was one more thing about the man who hid his talent in the ground. He was afraid of the master’s response. The enemy doesn’t want to just distort how we view ourselves. He also wants our view of God to be distorted. It seems that he either tries to get people to believe that God is an overbearing tyrant or is ok with anything we do. Neither of these things are true. God is good, he is sovereign, he is faithful, and he is just. We have a responsibility to get into God’s word for ourselves to discover who God really is, and who we are in him. If we struggle, he will help us. He never leaves us to fend for ourselves. He wants for us to succeed. When individuals succeed, the body succeeds. What has God given you to give away?
Melicia Evans 