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Matthew 25:26-30
Jesus has given several parables consecutively concerning faithful servants and unfaithful servants. In the parable of the talents (Matthew 25:14-30), three servants are given talents. Two of which utilized their talents to the best of their ability to grow what they had been given in their faithfulness to their master. But in Matthew 25:24-25 we learn that the third servant did not utilize his talent because he was too concerned about himself and the consequences of failure. We must be careful to not assume that all three servants are in comparison to being saved, but that the first two, being called by their master, followed their master’s will and produced from what they were given. The third, however, did not answer the call of his master; he did not accept the way of his master but chose himself and his own concerns over that which his master had called him to.
In Matthew 25:26-30 we learn that in this third servant’s refusal to obey his master, his master was therefore not receiving of him. The servant was given an opportunity to accept a gift/talent freely, but denied utilizing it to fulfill his role in his master’s kingdom. As we have learned in Matthew 25:14 (NKJV), “For the kingdom of heaven is like…” in the way that God reaches out to us and offers us all talents/gifts that are suitable and specific to our individual make-ups, but we do not have to utilize them and obey our Master, being God Himself.
This is a promise that God offers us all talents/gifts, but He does not force us to utilize them – it is a choice we must make for ourselves.
When our Master returns, being Jesus, He will judge us by our talents; have we utilized them for Him and recognized that true life is found only in Him, or have we hidden our talents away and not shown obedience to our Master. The Apostle Paul declares in 2 Timothy 4:1-2 (NIV), “In the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who will judge the living and the dead, and in view of his appearing and his kingdom, I give you this charge: Preach the word; be prepared in season and out of season; correct, rebuke and encourage – with great patience and careful instruction.” We can hide in our superficial lives for a while, but when Jesus returns, He will make seen what is unseen, and make known what is unknown. The Bible teaches us in 1 Corinthians 13:9-10, 12 (NKJV), “For we know in part and we prophesy in part. But when that which is perfect has come, then that which is in part will be done away” and continuing in verse 12, “For now we see in a mirror, dimly, but then face to face. Now I know in part, but then I shall know just as I also am known.” Which side will you be on? Will it be the side of being rewarded with gifts beyond what you were given as was the faithful servants, or will it be the punishment for disobedience to God in refusing Him and the free gift He has offered you which results in being cast into outer darkness where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth (Matthew 25:30)? Choose Christ Jesus today and be rewarded for eternity through putting your faith in Him and utilizing the talents/gifts that He has offered you.
Dear LORD,
We are all created to be Your servants – obedient and loyal to You. But because of Your great love for us, You do not force us to accept and follow Your will for our lives. It must be out of our obedience to You through our faith in You that we gain the desire to follow You. It is through our faith in You that we open our hearts to You in accepting the gift of life in Christ Jesus that draws us to following Your will for our lives. It is our faith in Jesus that allows us to see that our own ways are not Your ways and that we need to let go of our ways to fully be obedient to Your will for our lives so that we may realize and utilize the gifts that You have for us. Please let it be so LORD – in Christ. In Jesus name I pray, amen.