When I was growing up, I loved stories with a moral.
I remember story time at the library was always the highlight of my week. My sister and I would listen to records (yes, real records) on the record player downstairs while Mom worked or sowed. Nearly all of the stories we hear whether read to us at the library or in over that record player in the Northwest Kansas basement were packed with adventure– and a great moral of how to live (or not to live) life.
Now as an adult, I still love a good story with a solid take-home truth.
Which allows me the opportunity to introduce a new series, “A Walk through the Parables.”
Over the next several weeks, Monday’s will be dedicated to discussing a specific parable, what Jesus meant and what we are supposed to learn from it. We won’t be tackling all parables in the bible (that would take forever!) but we will certainly hit some of the big ones.
First things first: The point of all the parables were to create an analogy that Jesus used to teach his followers. Some of them understood the parables, some of them didn’t. There was purpose to this as closed eyes/ears or hardened hearts that didn’t believe in Christ couldn’t pick up what he was laying down. The meaning was kept hidden from some because their hearts weren’t in the right place.
So I pray that all of our hearts are in the right place as we press forward with this new series adventure.
Today, I want to start out simple, with one of my favorite parables: The Parable of the Talents from Matthew 25:14-28. Click here to read the Scripture in its entirety.)
This parable is intense, but easily one of my faves. (I have written a little bit about it previously over here.) Here’s a quick run down of how the story goes:
A master gives his three servants some talents of money to take care of while he is away. The first two invest it and double the master’s money. The last servant buries it in the backyard and lets it sit.
The master is pleased with the faithfulness of the first two servants and responds with “Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful in a few things; now I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share in your master’s happiness.”
Unfortunately servant #3 doesn’t receive the same greeting. Due to his stinginess and unwillingness to invest and use what the master gave him, the master is ticked. His response? “You wicked lazy servant.” He last commands that the “worthless” servant be thrown out in the darkness where there is “weeping and gnashing” of teeth.
See? I told you it was intense. But a great story, right?
It is more than just a great story. Here is what it means for us:
Jesus is the Master, we as His disciples, are the servants. Bottom line is that God has oh-so-generously equipped all of us with various skills, abilities, gifts and the capacity to love others by loving Him. We are not to hoard amazing attributes but invest in the hearts of others to bring glory to the kingdom. To be a “good and faithful servant,” we are to be courageous and trust God to carry out whatever work, task or “treasure” He has placed in our lives.
If not, we face the same fate at servant #3. I won’t spell it out for you, but you can probably infer that it includes a not-so-awesome eternity away from God.
Um, no thanks.
A quick note about this parable: God loves us unconditionally and isn’t going to write us off if we don’t live out His gifts perfectly every single time. If we genuinely love and submit to God, we can’t lose our salvation. But the fruit of salvation, in addition to an eternity in heaven, is to share God’s kingdom with others through our gifts.
Pretty. Stinking. Cool.
Which servant are you today? When it comes to “investing” in the things God has given you, how confident are you? What is one specific gift God has given you? I would love to encourage you– leave a comment below.
As we wrap up today’s walk through the parables, I want to leave you with one of my favorite quotes from Erma Bombeck:
“When I stand before God at the end of my life, I pray I have not a single bit of talent left so I can say ‘I used everything you gave me.”
Keep going you good and faithful servant, you.
Serving Him,
“After a long absence, the master of those three servants came back and settled up with them. The one given five thousand dollars showed him how he had doubled his investment. His master commended him: ‘Good work! You did your job well. From now on be my partner.’” ~Matthew 25:19-21 MSG
Linking up today with Kelli via Unforced Rhythms, Laura at Playdates with God, and Joan’s Beauty in His Grip. Oh! And be sure to join our #EverydayJesus link-up community right here at 7 Days Time every Thursday!
