5-2-1--->
It never ceases to amaze me how we can still find new things or fresh insights from the bible. It doesn't matter how many times we have read it or how many sermons we have heard or how long the bible has existed.
Now the parable of the talents is one of those well preached messages of the bible. Some focus on the master who is God and who gives all gifts- after all, what do we have that isn't from above? Some focus on the person with the least talents, and warns us not to waste God's gifts by burying them in the ground. Others encourages us to focus on the one with the most talents to maximise the heavenly returns.
During some worship training this week, we heard the importance of those who were given 2000 talents. Ok, so the master didn't give us heaps and heaps of gifts. Perhaps we aren't entirely talented, perhaps our skills are a bit rusty, perhaps we find that we aren't as good as those around us at singing, playing musical instruments, preaching, teaching, spreading the gospel, gift giving, encouraging, etc. But we certainly know that we have some gifts. Feelings of being inapt, or discouraged may make us want to hide in the shadows and not share our gifts to further His kingdom.
Is this what God wants? Should we not use the gifts He has given us to serve Him in whatever capacity He calls us? And so humbled by this message, I stand here in wait, God if you call me, I will follow. If you tell me to do something, I will trust you even if I am unsure of my own abilities.
How will you respond? Are you willing to surrender all your pride, insecurities, mind, body, strength and soul in worship of the one who deserves it all?
Matthew 25
The Parable of the Bags of Gold
14 “Again, it will be like a man going on a journey, who called his servants and entrusted his wealth to them. 15 To one he gave five bags of gold, to another two bags, and to another one bag,[a] each according to his ability. Then he went on his journey. 16 The man who had received five bags of gold went at once and put his money to work and gained five bags more. 17 So also, the one with two bags of gold gained two more. 18 But the man who had received one bag went off, dug a hole in the ground and hid his master’s money. 19 “After a long time the master of those servants returned and settled accounts with them. 20 The man who had received five bags of gold brought the other five. ‘Master,’ he said, ‘you entrusted me with five bags of gold. See, I have gained five more.’
21 “His master replied, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master’s happiness!’
22 “The man with two bags of gold also came. ‘Master,’ he said, ‘you entrusted me with two bags of gold; see, I have gained two more.’
23 “His master replied, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master’s happiness!’
24 “Then the man who had received one bag of gold came. ‘Master,’ he said, ‘I knew that you are a hard man, harvesting where you have not sown and gathering where you have not scattered seed. 25So I was afraid and went out and hid your gold in the ground. See, here is what belongs to you.’
26 “His master replied, ‘You wicked, lazy servant! So you knew that I harvest where I have not sown and gather where I have not scattered seed? 27 Well then, you should have put my money on deposit with the bankers, so that when I returned I would have received it back with interest.
28 “‘So take the bag of gold from him and give it to the one who has ten bags. 29 For whoever has will be given more, and they will have an abundance. Whoever does not have, even what they have will be taken from them. 30 And throw that worthless servant outside, into the darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.’
Christmas song #13
