Should We Hide Our Resources Under The Mattress?
Again, it will be like a man going on a journey, who called his servants and entrusted his property to them. To one he gave five talents of money, to another two talents, and to another one talent, each according to his ability. Then he went on his journey. The man who had received the five talents went at once and put his money to work and gained five more. So also, the one with the two talents gained two more. But the man who had received the one talent went off, dug a hole in the ground and hid his master's money. After a long time the master of those servants returned and settled accounts with them. The man who had received the five talents brought the other five. “Master,” he said, “you entrusted me with five talents. See, I have gained five more.” His master replied, “Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master's happiness!” The man with the two talents also came. “Master,” he said, “you entrusted me with two talents; see, I have gained two more.” His master replied, “Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master's happiness!” Then the man who had received the one talent came. “Master,” he said, “I knew that you are a hard man, harvesting where you have not sown and gathering where you have not scattered seed. So I was afraid and went out and hid your talent in the ground. See, here is what belongs to you.” His master replied, “You wicked, lazy servant! So you knew that I harvest where I have not sown and gather where I have not scattered seed? Well then, you should have put my money on deposit with the bankers, so that when I returned I would have received it back with interest.” ‘Take the talent from him and give it to the one who has the ten talents. For everyone who has will be given more, and he will have an abundance. Whoever does not have, even what he has will be taken from him. And throw that worthless servant outside, into the darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.”(Matthew 25:14-30)
The truth is I wasn’t really eavesdropping. I was simply standing in line at the bank waiting for my turn at the teller’s window. The conversation between the person at the next window and his teller was just loud enough to catch my attention. The man next to me wanted to make a large withdrawal, and the teller was asking him if he was dissatisfied with the service of the bank. He said, “No, not at all.” She asked him, “Are you going to deposit the money in another bank?” “No,” he said. “I am going to take it home and put it under my mattress.” “Are you really sure you want to do that with such a large amount of money?” she asked. “It’s my money, he said. “I’ll do anything I choose with it.” She tried one more time, “Our bank really is stable and your money is insured. You don’t have to worry about loosing it.” At that point I got wrapped up in my own business at the teller window so I didn’t actually catch the last part of their exchange. But I assumed that her argument was not that persuasive as I saw her counting out his withdrawal as I exited the bank.
Financial security is on everyone’s mind these days. Most of the country is watching the daily movement of the Dow Jones figures with a great deal of apprehension. And there’s nothing wrong with that. It is a wise person who manages his affairs carefully. Whether it’s a wise thing to pull your money out of the bank and stuff it under your mattress is yet to be seen.
The passage above teaches us that the Lord carefully watches over his investments as well. But He’s not concerned about something as fleeting as worldly wealth but something far more valuable. He is looking for a return on the investment He has made in you and me.
* God Sees A Potential Return In All Of Us. Jesus tells a story about a man who was getting ready for a journey, “he called his servants and entrusted His property to them.” It was common for wealthy men to take long journeys. Before they would leave, they would arrange to have someone pick up their mail and feed their pets. But even more than that, they would often delegate the control and multiplication of their wealth to trustworthy employees. They were expected to bring a return on what had been handed over to them. There was no doubt in the minds of these servants that the property and money still belonged to the master. They were the possessors, but not the owners. Their job was to manage what they were given. The reason the Master entrusts his blessings into the hands of his servants is he believes they will invest his holdings wisely so that when he returns, His holdings will have increased. Notice He doesn’t give each of the servants the same amount. He gave one amount to the first, a smaller amount to the second servant and a still smaller amount to the third. Verse 15 says, “he gave to each according to his ability.” In other words he sees a different kind of potential in each servant. The issue is not how much is given to the servants, but whether the servants brought back a greater return of the Master’s resources.
* Each Servant Will Give a Final Account. None of us want to be audited by the IRS, but we’ll all be audited by the Almighty. We’ll have to give an account for how we’ve used what we’ve been given. When will that accounting take place? Scripture tells us that no one knows the day or the hour of His return. But we do know this – it’s closer today than it was yesterday. Are you ready for the Master’s return today? When He returns will He find that His investment in you has brought increase to His kingdom?
* When We Play It Safe and Hide God’s Gifts, He is Displeased I was afraid and went out and hid your talent in the ground. See – here is what belongs to you.” The biggest difference between the first two guys in the story and the third is their understanding of the Master. They first two understand the Master’s faithfulness and grace and compassion. There’s no fear of their master. They understand that He owns everything anyway. So they are willing to take risks. The third guy doesn’t invest because he’s afraid. He doesn’t really know or trust His master so he plays it safe. Since he doesn’t understand God he refuses to be a risk-taker – instead he become an undertaker and buries His master’s wealth. All the time thinking that as long as he returns the designated blessing that was given to him, everything will be ok. Rather than thanking the servant for his “conservative” approach to handling his affairs, the Master calls him a wicked, lazy servant and has him cast away from His presence.
* When We Take A Risk And Invest God’s Gifts – He Is Pleased The first 2 servants used their Master’s resources to invest in a way so that when he returned they both had realized a 100% increase. Putting those resources into play involved risk. But they knew they couldn’t just bury what He had entrusted to them. God honors their willingness to step out in faith and invites them to come and share in His happiness.
When it comes to what God has given you – money - time – abilities – opportunities – are you an undertaker or a risk-taker? Are you hiding your “talents” under a mattress or taking a risk for your Master? Go ahead and attempt great things for God. He would rather you attempt something great and fail than to never attempt anything great for Him at all. “Each one should use whatever gift he has received to serve others, faithfully administering God's grace in its various forms.”
(1 Peter 4:10)
Live The Victorious Life,
PT
The truth is I wasn’t really eavesdropping. I was simply standing in line at the bank waiting for my turn at the teller’s window. The conversation between the person at the next window and his teller was just loud enough to catch my attention. The man next to me wanted to make a large withdrawal, and the teller was asking him if he was dissatisfied with the service of the bank. He said, “No, not at all.” She asked him, “Are you going to deposit the money in another bank?” “No,” he said. “I am going to take it home and put it under my mattress.” “Are you really sure you want to do that with such a large amount of money?” she asked. “It’s my money, he said. “I’ll do anything I choose with it.” She tried one more time, “Our bank really is stable and your money is insured. You don’t have to worry about loosing it.” At that point I got wrapped up in my own business at the teller window so I didn’t actually catch the last part of their exchange. But I assumed that her argument was not that persuasive as I saw her counting out his withdrawal as I exited the bank.
Financial security is on everyone’s mind these days. Most of the country is watching the daily movement of the Dow Jones figures with a great deal of apprehension. And there’s nothing wrong with that. It is a wise person who manages his affairs carefully. Whether it’s a wise thing to pull your money out of the bank and stuff it under your mattress is yet to be seen.
The passage above teaches us that the Lord carefully watches over his investments as well. But He’s not concerned about something as fleeting as worldly wealth but something far more valuable. He is looking for a return on the investment He has made in you and me.
* God Sees A Potential Return In All Of Us. Jesus tells a story about a man who was getting ready for a journey, “he called his servants and entrusted His property to them.” It was common for wealthy men to take long journeys. Before they would leave, they would arrange to have someone pick up their mail and feed their pets. But even more than that, they would often delegate the control and multiplication of their wealth to trustworthy employees. They were expected to bring a return on what had been handed over to them. There was no doubt in the minds of these servants that the property and money still belonged to the master. They were the possessors, but not the owners. Their job was to manage what they were given. The reason the Master entrusts his blessings into the hands of his servants is he believes they will invest his holdings wisely so that when he returns, His holdings will have increased. Notice He doesn’t give each of the servants the same amount. He gave one amount to the first, a smaller amount to the second servant and a still smaller amount to the third. Verse 15 says, “he gave to each according to his ability.” In other words he sees a different kind of potential in each servant. The issue is not how much is given to the servants, but whether the servants brought back a greater return of the Master’s resources.
* Each Servant Will Give a Final Account. None of us want to be audited by the IRS, but we’ll all be audited by the Almighty. We’ll have to give an account for how we’ve used what we’ve been given. When will that accounting take place? Scripture tells us that no one knows the day or the hour of His return. But we do know this – it’s closer today than it was yesterday. Are you ready for the Master’s return today? When He returns will He find that His investment in you has brought increase to His kingdom?
* When We Play It Safe and Hide God’s Gifts, He is Displeased I was afraid and went out and hid your talent in the ground. See – here is what belongs to you.” The biggest difference between the first two guys in the story and the third is their understanding of the Master. They first two understand the Master’s faithfulness and grace and compassion. There’s no fear of their master. They understand that He owns everything anyway. So they are willing to take risks. The third guy doesn’t invest because he’s afraid. He doesn’t really know or trust His master so he plays it safe. Since he doesn’t understand God he refuses to be a risk-taker – instead he become an undertaker and buries His master’s wealth. All the time thinking that as long as he returns the designated blessing that was given to him, everything will be ok. Rather than thanking the servant for his “conservative” approach to handling his affairs, the Master calls him a wicked, lazy servant and has him cast away from His presence.
* When We Take A Risk And Invest God’s Gifts – He Is Pleased The first 2 servants used their Master’s resources to invest in a way so that when he returned they both had realized a 100% increase. Putting those resources into play involved risk. But they knew they couldn’t just bury what He had entrusted to them. God honors their willingness to step out in faith and invites them to come and share in His happiness.
When it comes to what God has given you – money - time – abilities – opportunities – are you an undertaker or a risk-taker? Are you hiding your “talents” under a mattress or taking a risk for your Master? Go ahead and attempt great things for God. He would rather you attempt something great and fail than to never attempt anything great for Him at all. “Each one should use whatever gift he has received to serve others, faithfully administering God's grace in its various forms.”
(1 Peter 4:10)
Live The Victorious Life,
PT
posted by Larry | 1:24 PM
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