God's Wisdom In A Nutshell

Hello all!

Today I’d like to discuss the parable of the talents.  Let’s start with the story below, take a look:

Matthew 25:14-30 English Standard Version (ESV)

 “For it will be like a man going on a journey, who called his servants and entrusted to them his property. To one he gave five talents, to another two, to another one, to each according to his ability… Now after a long time the master of those servants came and settled accounts with them. And he who had received the five talents came forward, bringing five talents more, saying, ‘Master, you delivered to me five talents; here, I have made five talents more.’ His master said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant. You have been faithful over a little; I will set you over much. Enter into the joy of your master.’  And he also who had the two talents came forward, saying, ‘Master, you delivered to me two talents; here, I have made two talents more.’ His master said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant. You have been faithful over a little; I will set you over much. Enter into the joy of your master.’ He also who had received the one talent came forward, saying, ‘Master, I knew you to be a hard man, reaping where you did not sow, and gathering where you scattered no seed, so I was afraid, and I went and hid your talent in the ground. Here, you have what is yours.’ But his master answered him, ‘You wicked and slothful servant! You knew that I reap where I have not sown and gather where I scattered no seed? Then you ought to have invested my money with the bankers, and at my coming I should have received what was my own with interest. So take the talent from him and give it to him who has the ten talents.  For to everyone who has, will more be given, and he will have an abundance. But from the one who has not, even what he has will be taken away. And cast the worthless servant into the outer darkness. In that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.’

This is more than a story about money and gaining more. It is an illustration that you must be wise with what you have been given.  God is most concerned about His Kingdom on earth because it is a small sample of what it will be in heaven. He has given all of us talents that are to be used to expand His Kingdom on earth. These resources or talents as the story relates, aren’t to be hidden and kept to ourselves. We are to use them to help those less fortunate than ourselves because this shows our relationship to the Lord and our faith in God to continue to provide for us if we share with those less fortunate. The instructions in the Bible are clear:

“What good is it, my brothers, if someone says he has faith but does not have works? Can that faith save him? If a brother or sister is poorly clothed and lacking in daily food, and one of you says to them, “Go in peace, be warmed and filled,” without giving them the things needed for the body, what good is that? So also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead. But someone will say, “You have faith and I have works.” Show me your faith apart from your works, and I will show you my faith by my works.” James 2:14-18 ESV

“Whoever is generous to the poor lends to the Lord, and he will repay him for his deed.” Proverbs 19:17 ESV

When we read scripture, we will come to realize that God has done everything to provide for us. He has defeated evil, He has defeated death and He lives. If we take this profound wisdom and incorporate it into our lives we will realize that being sons and daughters of a living God, means that we will have everything we need. Therefore let’s use our resources and not bury them in the ground so to speak, out of fear that we might not have enough.

The young lions suffer want and hunger; but those who seek the LORD lack no good thing. (Ps. 34:10)

“And whatever you ask in prayer, you will receive, if you have faith.” (Mt. 21:22)

 God is our provider. Take God at His word.  Accept and trust Him. Then turn around and be generous with what you have been given because this is the way to internal joy. It’s really that simple.

Have a wonderful week,

Lisa.