I recently started a new Bible study with the “She Reads Truth” app (FREE and it’s available on the iTunes and Google Play store) – “The Parables of Jesus”
Of course, the famous Parable of the Talents is one of the highlighted scriptures.
Matthew 25:14-30 NLT
“Again, the Kingdom of Heaven can be illustrated by the story of a man going on a long trip. He called together his servants and entrusted his money to them while he was gone. He gave five bags of silver to one, two bags of silver to another, and one bag of silver to the last—dividing it in proportion to their abilities. He then left on his trip. “The servant who received the five bags of silver began to invest the money and earned five more. The servant with two bags of silver also went to work and earned two more. But the servant who received the one bag of silver dug a hole in the ground and hid the master’s money. “After a long time their master returned from his trip and called them to give an account of how they had used his money. The servant to whom he had entrusted the five bags of silver came forward with five more and said, ‘Master, you gave me five bags of silver to invest, and I have earned five more.’ “The master was full of praise. ‘Well done, my good and faithful servant. You have been faithful in handling this small amount, so now I will give you many more responsibilities. Let’s celebrate together!’ “The servant who had received the two bags of silver came forward and said, ‘Master, you gave me two bags of silver to invest, and I have earned two more.’ “The master said, ‘Well done, my good and faithful servant. You have been faithful in handling this small amount, so now I will give you many more responsibilities. Let’s celebrate together!’ “Then the servant with the one bag of silver came and said, ‘Master, I knew you were a harsh man, harvesting crops you didn’t plant and gathering crops you didn’t cultivate. I was afraid I would lose your money, so I hid it in the earth. Look, here is your money back.’ “But the master replied, ‘You wicked and lazy servant! If you knew I harvested crops I didn’t plant and gathered crops I didn’t cultivate, why didn’t you deposit my money in the bank? At least I could have gotten some interest on it.’ “Then he ordered, ‘Take the money from this servant, and give it to the one with the ten bags of silver. To those who use well what they are given, even more will be given, and they will have an abundance. But from those who do nothing, even what little they have will be taken away. Now throw this useless servant into outer darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.” – (Describing hell in the Bible)
After the reading, there are a series of questions basically evaluating your understanding of the scripture and what the parable means to you. Most importantly, the main question always stands: What is the main lesson in this parable?
It got me thinking! Talk about conviction.
I thought deeply about the time I have been spending, how I have been spending it, where I have spending and who I have been spending it with. It also led me to ask myself: How much time do I spend wasting my time and talents by just sitting around waiting for something to happen or situations to change?
From my personal evaluation, here are a few points on what I have learned from this specific parable:
God helps those who help themselves.
This means we are literally a product of the work we put in. God gives us the resources and He expects us to use them wisely and to the best of our ability. Today, we live in a microwave society. We want everything to happen NOW … or God shows us a promise and we wait forever without putting in the work expecting life changes.
We should use our talents to glorify God – That’s why He gave them to us. Our time and talent are given to us to work towards God’s Kingdom AKA be good stewards. We work to serve Him. We work onto Him. We will be held accountable. We can’t be an unfaithful and lazy steward.
We have everything we already need.
As I said before God provides us with the resources and it’s up to us to seek and find them. How can we expect our talents to grow and prosper if we don’t put in the work?
Here’s an example of a routine: Seek God —>He reveals a promise —> He provides the resource —>
We get impatient —> The flesh wins —> We try to make things happen ourselves —> The original God-given resource fails because we are unfaithful with little (Luke 16:10)—> We run to God again —> He answers —> BUT THIS TIME we revisit the resource —> WE pray asking God to use us according to HIS will and how to use the resources He blessed us with —> Wait on God’s timing. I don’t know about you, but the first part of the routine is exhausting and time wasting! Isn’t it much easier to just seek God about the resources and to pray that we use them wisely according to His will? We can accomplish so much more through God’s handiwork.
Not everyone’s talent will be your talent. Stay in your talent lane!
I can’t say this enough – your journey, is your journey. Not Erica’s, not Johnny’s and not Tiffany’s. They simply won’t be able to do everything you can do and vice versa. Some things you’re going to be better at and that’s how we all work towards building the Kingdom of God.
V15 says: “He gave five bags of silver to one, two bags of silver to another, and one bag of silver to the last—dividing it in proportion to their abilities. He then left on his trip.”
Let that verse sink in. Did you get what I did? My understanding is that the master understood the division of portion. He knew that the servant with one talent was incapable of producing as much as the servant with the five. We all have different task in the kingdom of God. One body – different parts. Note how we have one brain but two kidneys? Or why we need a small and large intestine? One heart and two lungs? Every organ has its own function (our gifts and talents) but they all have to work together for ONE function – KEEP YOU ALIVE.
God has given me my gifts and talents and I will use them to the best of ability here on this earth so when I meet Him again, I will hear “well done”
It’s that simple.
Lots of love and blessings,
The Graced Citizen
