14 Jul July 12th Weekly Devotional
In Matthew 25:14-30, Jesus tells a parable of a master who has entrusted different items of value to three different servants. Each one he gives to holds a different value. Each one is given what the master believes that particular servant is capable of using wisely.
One he gives five. One he gives two, and the third he gives one.
He immediately leaves for a journey.
The servant who was entrusted with five talents takes good advantage of his blessings, grows them, and gains more ability and “talents”, doubling the value of what he had been placed as steward over.
Likewise, although it was not as much, it was still according to his own ability, the one who had been entrusted with two talents does the same, growing those talents, more ability, also doubling the value of what he too had been made steward over.
However, the one who had been given one talent, took it and buried it, and did absolutely nothing with what he had been blessed with.
It surely is frustrating when we are on the outside, looking in at someone who has been given an amazing talent, or is placed in a position where they can make so much difference, but sit back, bury what they have been given, and opportunity passes by, maybe even time and again.
I have been guilty myself, at letting opportunity pass me by, time and again. I have squandered blessing after blessing. The question is, will I continue to do it, or will I make a change??
The master returns and calls his servants to himself to see what has become of his fruits. The master tells the one with now ten talents, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant…’ To the one who now has four talents, he tells the same. He tells them both, ‘You have been faithful over a few things, I will make you ruler over many things. Enter into the joy of your lord.’
But the one who did nothing, came to the master and told him he took what he had been given, and buried it, and now has nothing to show. He said ‘master, I was afraid. I was afraid of what you might do. I was afraid of making the wrong decision. I sat back and did nothing.’
Then the master said, “You are wicked and you are lazy. You could have at least deposited my money with bankers, so that at least it would have gained a little interest, but you didn’t even do that.” He is telling the wicked and lazy servant that even doing this wouldn’t have been enough, or what was expected, but at LEAST it was SOMETHING. But he had not done even this.
So the master takes the one talent, and gives to the one who now has ten. He then says, “cast the unprofitable servant into the outer darkness. There will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.’
Not sure about you, but that doesn’t sound too pleasurable.
“Lord give me understanding and keep my eyes open, that when opportunity arises, or passes in front of me, to serve YOU, guide me to see those opportunities and seize them, and when that one is accomplished, send another, and another, and another.”
This is my prayer for me, and this is my prayer for you.
So during a busy week, let’s use what has been placed before us, the best we can, to serve and give glory to Him.
