Are You Properly Managing The Resources That God Has Provided For You?

‘ “Again, it will be like a man going on a journey, who called his servants and entrusted his wealth to them. To one he gave five bags of gold, to another two bags, and to another one bag, each according to his ability. Then he went on his journey. The man who had received five bags of gold went at once and put his money to work and gained five bags more. So also, the one with two bags of gold gained two more. But the man who had received one bag went off, dug a hole in the ground and hid his master’s money. “After a long time the master of those servants returned and settled accounts with them. 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.’ “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!’ “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.’ “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!’ “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. So I was afraid and went out and hid your gold in the ground. See, here is what belongs to you.’ “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? 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. “ ‘So take the bag of gold from him and give it to the one who has ten bags. 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. And throw that worthless servant outside, into the darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.’ ‘ Matthew 25:14-30

This is part two of a three-part series on the Olivet Discourse. Jesus finished His teachings with these three parables about Personal Salvation, Stewardship, and Service.

Here is the link to the first post:

https://standingfirminfaith.com/blog/do-you-have-what-it-takes-to-stand-firm-till-the-end/

In this parable, we find a man going on a journey. He gives three people several amounts of money to make a profit. He provides one man five bags of gold, another he gives two bags of gold and the last man, he provides one bag of gold.

We are all born with unique talents and abilities that God has given to us. Every one of us has been provided with these talents that would benefit the others around us if we took the time to develop these abilities.

This parable is also called the “Parable of the Talents,” I like that title; the definition of talent is “natural aptitude or skill.” Regarding talents, we all have something natural and innate that we are good at that can serve others.

In the parable, the first two men double the amounts of gold that the man left them to use to produce a profit. When they reported their results, he responded, ‘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!’

My mission statement ends with Opening my eyes in the presence of God and hearing the words, “Well done, my good and faithful servant.” This thought makes me well up with joyful anticipation and helps me to stay the course.

As human beings, God has provided us three things:

1. Our talents
2. Time
3. The people around us to serve with these talents

When we focus our talents with the time we have in the service of others, our lives take on a different purpose. With this being our focus, God will provide everything else we need. Food, clothing, and shelter will be taken care of. But we’ll have to have faith that God will do what He promises.

‘ “Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothes? Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? Can any one of you by worrying add a single hour to your life ? “And why do you worry about clothes? See how the flowers of the field grow. They do not labor or spin. Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you—you of little faith? So do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.’ Matthew 6:25-34

The last man buried his talents, and nothing increased. And when he presented himself before the Lord this was the response:

‘You wicked, lazy servant! So you knew that I harvest where I have not sown and gather where I have not scattered seed? 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. “ ‘So take the bag of gold from him and give it to the one who has ten bags. 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. And throw that worthless servant outside, into the darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.’ ‘

I’ve read several commentaries on this parable, and one of them said that the master in this parable is Jesus, the Creator of everything. He is in and through everything, and He holds everything together.

The other interesting thing I read was that this parable is about professing Christians.

We will all account for what the Lord has provided us and what we did with these resources to advance His Kingdom.

The question that we need to ask ourselves is “Am I using the talents and time that the Lord has provided me with in the service of others.

Heavenly Father, thank You for the resources You entrusted us with. I pray, Lord, that You help us to identify our unique talents and help us bring these talents to those around us to serve You and expand Your Kingdom.

Thank You for Your grace, mercy, and forgiveness. Help us to use the time we have left to bring those around us to Your throne, knowing that it is only by Your hand that grants repentance.

I pray, Lord, that You provide us with the thinking, motivation, and courage to boldly proclaim our faith in You and that everything we do, say, and think will glorify You in every way.

In the name of Jesus Christ, I pray, Amen!! 🙏❤️