Talents...

In Matthew 25:14-30, Jesus tells the parable of the "talents". Most of you probably remember that story. On Monday I was studying Matthew 24 and 25 and when I came to this passage I got two things out of it.

First I'll give you a quick recap:
The Master is leaving for a journey and entrusts some of his talents or money to three slaves. To the first one the master gave five talents, and to the second he gave two talents, and to the third one talent each according to the slaves own abilities. The first slave doubled his talents as did the second but the third slave was afraid so he buried his talent. After a long time the master came back to see how his slaves did. To the two who doubled their talents he said, "Well done! Because you were faithful of little I will make you over many things." But to the one who buried his talent he said, "You wicked and lazy slave..."

Like I said, I got two things out of this. (1) We as God's people have to be faithful with what God gives us. More specifically our own "talents". I've been truly blessed with a musical talent. Singing came natural to me. I taught myself how to play guitar and it didn't take long at all. I give God the glory for this. I know many people take a long time to learn guitar and sing but to me these things came natural. But why? Why was I given this talent? In the story the slaves were still working for their master even though he was gone for a long time. All the hard work the did, two of them anyway, was for their master. They doubled what their mater had given them and it was for their masters glory not their own. I think you can see where I'm going with this. God gives us talents so we can bring His name glory!

Now for some this means you really need to take God out of the box. You might be saying, "Well my talent is labor. I can't really give God glory and praise by working can I?" Absolutely you can! Romans 12:1 says, "Therefore I urge you, brethren, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies a living and holy sacrifice, acceptable to God, which is your spiritual service of worship." Our physical bodies is what Paul was talking about. What we do with them is our "service of worship." And listen to Colossians 3:23, "Whatever you do, do your work heartily, as for the Lord rather than for men..." Amen!

(2) The second thing I got out of Matthew 25:14-30 was for me and all Pastor's. You see just as the master entrusted his slaves with something that was of value to him (his money) our Heavenly Master has entrusted us with something that is of great value to Him: His people. I believe God has given every Pastor a congregation. Some He's given a large one, some a medium size one, and some a small one. Each according to the Pastors abilities. If you have a small church, like mine, don't be upset or jealous or judging of larger churches. I know a big attitude in small churches is, "Well bigger churches aren't as good because there's not as much relationship as our small church." And there's SO many reasons why that is so wrong to think. One reason is as a small church you're NOT CALLED TO STAY THE SIZE! The slaves multiplied what their master had given them and in the same way ALL ministries, no matter what size, are called to multiply. Matthew 28:19 says, "Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit."

If you look at our model for making disciples, Jesus Christ, we see that He taught them everything to do first by doing it Himself. But after He had "multiplied" Himself into 12, He then said, "Now you go! Do the exact same thing!" We're not called to "sit" on what God has entrusted us with. We must multiply for His glory! And when it comes to multiplication, God said make DISCIPLES, not decisions. Check yourself... I know for me it was a wake-up call because at the end of this age I don't want to stand before God and hear, "You wicked and lazy Pastor!"