“And to one he gave five talents, to another two, and to another one, to each according to his own ability; and immediately he went on a journey.” – Matthew 25:15
REFERENCE:
This story reminds me of the law of use: “What you don’t use, you lose.” The seeming imbalance in how the Master shared his talents with his servants confronts us. It looks unfair, but knowing them, the Master gave to each according to his ability. The Master gave something to each servant; what mattered was if they used it. Likewise, you have something; use it.
Talents in our text are a form of money (coins). However, I will use it to refer to God-given gifts, opportunities, graces, skills, strength, inborn abilities, or a clever mind. We have these gifts in different proportions, as in our text, but what matters is if we will use them; there is no limit to what we can do or become with them. No one is born without ‘talents.’ The problem is, “How many discover and develop them? How many of us get to utilize them?”
The servants with two and five talents took action by investing their talents. They used them to produce more talent. They understood that what they had would be used to get what they desired. God may not give you a maize but a corn seed; if you use it well, you will have bags of maize. However, the servant with one talent did nothing; instead, he hid his talent. He was blind to the fact that he had something and its worth, so he did not use it.
This results when you look at yourself and think God gave you nothing. I have heard people like that – “I am not as fine; I am bad at sports; I can’t sing; I don’t have what it takes; If I try, I will fail; I will make a fool of myself; I am not good enough….” These are like servants with one talent. They do not realize they have something, so they don’t use it.
People with the just-described mindset think they are disadvantaged, God does not love them, life is not faith to them, etc., and this thinking eventually leads them into destructive behavioral patterns as we see with the one-talent servant: laziness, blame, abandonment, hatred, envy, etc. Don’t be a victim of satan’s deception, nor envy others; you have something; use it.
PHOTO QUOTE
ADDITIONAL TEXTS:
Ephesians 2:10, Psalm 139:14, and Romans 2:11
PRAYER POINTS
+ Lord, I acknowledge that I am wonderfully made and blessed with many gifts and graces. I came into this world loaded with possibilities and abilities. Therefore, I thank You profusely, Lord.
+ Break every mental limitation that I have erected over my life. Lord, free me from self-doubt.
+ Lord, help me use what I have been given by you, taking advantage of opportunities and improving my life.
