"If you want to hear the music, you have to pay the band."
August 5, 2009
Matthew 25
The Parable of the Talents
14"Again, it will be like a man going on a journey, who called his servants and entrusted his property to them. 15To one he gave five talents[a] of money, to another two talents, and to another one talent, each according to his ability. Then he went on his journey. 16The man who had received the five talents went at once and put his money to work and gained five more. 17So also, the one with the two talents gained two more. 18But the man who had received the one talent went off, dug a hole in the ground and hid his master's money.
Interesting this parable—very interesting.
A couple of observations---
1.The talents were given. 2.The talents were given to Servants 3.2 Servant put what was given to them to work 4.1 Servant actually did more than nothing—He hid his talent.
So?So what?
Well—Question?Is salvation a free gift? If so?Why do so many “followers of Christ” believe somehow that they must earn salvation?Or if not earning salvation, earning the extra adage, well done my good and faithful servant.Does well done my good and Faithful servant go with following Christ?Or is salvation free as a gift as well as the talent given?
The answer to the last question is absolutelyYES!Salvation is a gift—not earned—and the talent was given—not earned.
So?So, when a follower of Christ acknowledges these 2 gifts, they have the most important, spiritual matter at their disposal—the choice to follow and live as both gifts were exactly that—gifts.
Or the follower of Christ can continue to treat both gifts as something that they have earned therefore….
Become arrogant as they believe they have earned the gifts
The follower can do absolutely nothing with the gift and treat the gifts with much fear.
Fear?Yes.I know many, many followers of Christ that are so afraid of screwing up, taking chances, being honest…. Why?Because the gifts aren’t free.If they were thought of as free they would experience much opportunity, much freedom, much in exercising the joy of both gifts.
No.You don’t believe that?
Well, notice the excuse the 3rd servant gives burying his gift
24"Then the man who had received the one talent 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 talent in the ground. See, here is what belongs to you.'
He tells the truth. He doesn’t believe that the giver of the gift is good—but hard—some followers of Christ believe that about the heavenly Father and they are stunted in choosing to experience the gifts.
He also admits his fear—His fear of believing that in the end—he either could not do enough with the gift or he didn’t want to put to work the gift—being lazy with what he was GIVEN.
Proving the point that the gift was not earned but given and he (we) have the choice to do or not do with what has been given.So?Well, let me get real here.
I know what I have been given.
1.A great Salvation.
2.Gifts that God has given me to multiply the gift.
What I choose to do with those gifts says everything about the giver of those gifts to me.I hope my life reflects much joy in the giver and the gifts, and reflects an attitude of thankfulness toward the giver and toward the gifts.
I choose everyday to live full out—I have no fear of the giver of the gifts— Why?Because I know I earned neither—I am merely a servant that was “entrusted with his property.”
