Something hit me this morning.
Randomly, as I was driving to work, I started thinking about the parable of the three servants in the Bible. You know, the one where their master goes off on business, leaving them each with varying amounts of talents [or gold coins/money], along with specific instructions regarding the use of said talents. He wanted the servants to do something with the money given to them—something that would benefit him upon his return.
When the master arrived home after his travels, he was pleased with the first two servants because they wisely chose to invest and grow the amount of money given to them. So, in reward for their services, the master put each of them in charge of even more money. However, the third servant chose not to do anything with the money given to him. He was afraid of the master, and chose to hide the money away so as not to lose it. The master’s money was safe, but nothing had been gained or accomplished from the servant possessing it. This made the master angry, and he threw the third servant out of his home.
In my rational mind, I found it hard to understand the master’s anger at the third servant. I mean, at least he didn’t lose the money. Everything was just as it was before the master left—what’s the big fuss all about? But then it hit me. Receiving a gift and choosing not to do anything with that gift is in fact something to be upset about. And you know what else? Each one of us has received gifts, and if you’re anything like me, you haven’t been doing a very good job of utilizing them.
I’m talking about talent. Not the same sort of monetary talents that were in the parable, but the God-given talents that each of us possess. God made each and everyone of us special and unique, and along with that gave us our own set of gifts and talents. But, it’s our choice to decide whether we will be like the first and second servants, or like the third. Will we choose to do something with the gifts God has given us—or will we be like the third servant and choose to hide our talents away from the world?
This morning it occurred to me that I have been acting like the third servant. I know that God has a unique and wonderful plan for my life, and has equipped me with the talents necessary to fulfill his plan, but I have chosen to hide those talents away. Whether out of fear, complacency, or simply ignorance I haven’t been using the gifts God has given me to the best of my abilities. And someday, I don’t want to reach the end of my life, thinking back on all the things I have done, and think—I could have done more; I should have done more. I want God to be pleased with the way in which I chose to use his talents in my life; pleased with the way I lived out his calling.
How about you? Do you feel that you are using the talents God has given you to the best of your abilities? It doesn’t matter what you have done in the past—choose to today to be like the first two servants. Choose today to give God everything you’ve got. That’s what I am choosing to do.
Hope you all are having a great week so far! God Bless:)
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