MISSED OPPORTUNITIES FOR THE UNPRODUCTIVE

The narrative for this particular blog is found in Matthew 25:14 – 31, and I saw so many nuggets in it, that I am genuinely excited to share them with you.

Verse fourteen starts this parable telling us that a man who is about to embark on a trip gives three servants talents to invest. These talents belong to the man, not the servants.

“For the kingdom of heaven is as a man traveling into a far country, who called his own servants, and delivered unto them his goods.”

I find we often boast about our abilities, but in reality, it is not ours. That is why when we are given a compliment, we should say earnestly, “To God be the glory.”

I believe the critical phase in this parable is found in verse fifteen. It states, “to every man according to his several abilities.”

 “And unto one he gave five talents, to another two, and to another one; to every man according to his several ability; and straightway took his journey.”

God gives all of us talents according to our ability; it is He that determines our scale of responsibility. He does not give us more than we can handle.  We can find people either doing too much, just enough or nothing at all. As believers, it is our responsibility to multiply what God has given us and not complain about the task that is set before us.

Verses 16 thru 18 describe what the servants did with their talents:

“Then he that had received the five talents went and traded with the same, and made them other five talents. And likewise he that had received two, he also gained other two. But he that had received one went and digged in the earth, and hid his lord’s money.”

Two men doubled what they had received while the third acted in fear and hid what he had received. Listen to the response of the man to the productive servants.

 “After a long time the lord of those servants cometh, and reckoneth with them. And so he that had received five talents came and brought other five talents, saying, Lord, thou deliveredst unto me five talents: behold, I have gained beside them five talents more. His lord said unto him, Well done, thou good and faithful servant: thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord. He also that had received two talents came and said, Lord, thou deliveredst unto me two talents: behold, I have gained two other talents beside them. His lord said unto him, Well done, good and faithful servant; thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord.”

I gather from these verses that God gives us time to be productive. Each one of us will be held accountable for our actions. God expects a return from what He has invested in us. He expects believers to be active, responsible, and live up to their God-given potential.  God’s rewards are not based on accomplishments, but upon faithfulness, and the reward for faithful service is greater responsibility. I have to highlight my next statement. The reward for work well done is still more work to do. Most of us want to voice tiredness for our efforts, but God is saying He gives us the strength to do even more.

The last seven verses of this parable shows for the fearful and unproductive, God’s edict is unpleasant.

“Then he which had received the one talent came and said, Lord, I knew thee that thou art an hard man, reaping where thou hast not sown, and gathering where thou hast not strawed: And I was afraid, and went and hid thy talent in the earth: lo, there thou hast that is thine. His lord answered and said unto him, Thou wicked and slothful servant, thou knewest that I reap where I sowed not, and gather where I have not strawed: Thou oughtest therefore to have put my money to the exchangers, and then at my coming I should have received mine own with usury. Take therefore the talent from him, and give it unto him which hath ten talents. For unto every one that hath shall be given, and he shall have abundance: but from him that hath not shall be taken away even that which he hath. And cast ye the unprofitable servant into outer darkness: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.”

First and foremost, how you view God will affect how you serve Him. Fear of failure can paralyze you and hinder you from trying to succeed. Fear will cause you to miss your opportunity to produce. Fear will generate a negative response from God; for our excuse about why we did not or could not do is unacceptable to Him. He does not compare us with others, and He does not give us more than what we can handle, He expects us to achieve and attain.

Finally, like the unprofitable servant, if we miss our opportunity to multiply, advancement will be denied to us, and we are condemned to separation from the faithful, for the believer who is punished is the believer who missed their opportunity to try.