Matthew 25:14-30
Parable of the Talents
14 "For it is just like a man about to go on a journey, who called his own slaves and entrusted his possessions to them. 15 "To one he gave five talents, to another, two, and to another, one, each according to his own ability; and he went on his journey. 16 "Immediately the one who had received the five talents went and traded with them, and gained five more talents. 17 "In the same manner the one who had received the two talents gained two more. 18 "But he who received the one talent went away, and dug a hole in the ground and hid his master's money.
14 "For it is just like a man about to go on a journey, who called his own slaves and entrusted his possessions to them. 15 "To one he gave five talents, to another, two, and to another, one, each according to his own ability; and he went on his journey. 16 "Immediately the one who had received the five talents went and traded with them, and gained five more talents. 17 "In the same manner the one who had received the two talents gained two more. 18 "But he who received the one talent went away, and dug a hole in the ground and hid his master's money.
19 "Now after a long time the master of those slaves came and settled accounts with them. 20 "The one who had received the five talents came up and brought five more talents, saying, 'Master, you entrusted five talents to me. See, I have gained five more talents.' 21 "His master said to him, 'Well done, good and faithful slave. You were faithful with a few things, I will put you in charge of many things; enter into the joy of your master.'
22 "Also the one who had received the two talents came up and said, 'Master, you entrusted two talents to me. See, I have gained two more talents.' 23 "His master said to him, 'Well done, good and faithful slave. You were faithful with a few things, I will put you in charge of many things; enter into the joy of your master.'
24 "And the one also who had received the one talent came up and said, 'Master, I knew you to be a hard man, reaping where you did not sow and gathering where you scattered no seed. 25 'And I was afraid, and went away and hid your talent in the ground. See, you have what is yours.'
26 "But his master answered and said to him, 'You wicked, lazy slave, you knew that I reap where I did not sow and gather where I scattered no seed. 27 'Then you ought to have put my money in the bank, and on my arrival I would have received my money back with interest. 28 'Therefore take away the talent from him, and give it to the one who has the ten talents.'
29 "For to everyone who has, more shall be given, and he will have an abundance; but from the one who does not have, even what he does have shall be taken away. 30 "Throw out the worthless slave into the outer darkness; in that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.
I love this parable- maybe because I think it explains perfectly why I think it is so important to expand on what you've been given. My mom asks me a lot why I can't even be content with what I have and just use it. After all, there are plenty of churches out there who would use me as a worship leader or a drama director as I am at this moment- why do I have to be the best? I think the answer is here.
God gives us all a certain number of "talents." Should you be grateful for what you have? Of course! But to take those talents and bury them is such a travesty.
Jordan was leading the youth group at Jackson the other night, talking about God's will. He said to them that maybe the question needs to stop being "What is God's will for me?" and more "Where do I fit into the grand scheme of God's will?" That's why using your talents rather than burying them is so important. If you were created with a certain purpose in mind, your talents will be utilized and stretched and grown into what God needs them to be.
Sometimes I get really discouraged about my major and my career path. On more than one occasion I have, literally, cried out to God, asking Him why He cursed me with the desires and talents that I have. What a rotten way to live- constantly wondering where your next job is going to come from, living your life in a constant state of being judged and measured up, living constantly below average. It's frustrating and maddening and, when I only look at myself, I see failure.
It's then that I realize that these gifts are so not about me. If this life will bring one person to the joy that I have found in Jesus Christ, it will all be worth it in the end.
I think that this scripture warrants more discussion, so I'll probably just continue with it tomorrow.
I love this parable- maybe because I think it explains perfectly why I think it is so important to expand on what you've been given. My mom asks me a lot why I can't even be content with what I have and just use it. After all, there are plenty of churches out there who would use me as a worship leader or a drama director as I am at this moment- why do I have to be the best? I think the answer is here.
God gives us all a certain number of "talents." Should you be grateful for what you have? Of course! But to take those talents and bury them is such a travesty.
Jordan was leading the youth group at Jackson the other night, talking about God's will. He said to them that maybe the question needs to stop being "What is God's will for me?" and more "Where do I fit into the grand scheme of God's will?" That's why using your talents rather than burying them is so important. If you were created with a certain purpose in mind, your talents will be utilized and stretched and grown into what God needs them to be.
Sometimes I get really discouraged about my major and my career path. On more than one occasion I have, literally, cried out to God, asking Him why He cursed me with the desires and talents that I have. What a rotten way to live- constantly wondering where your next job is going to come from, living your life in a constant state of being judged and measured up, living constantly below average. It's frustrating and maddening and, when I only look at myself, I see failure.
It's then that I realize that these gifts are so not about me. If this life will bring one person to the joy that I have found in Jesus Christ, it will all be worth it in the end.
I think that this scripture warrants more discussion, so I'll probably just continue with it tomorrow.
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