'Doing' in keeping with gifting

I’ve discussed with some of you recently my interest in Jesus’ parable about the talents (or ‘bags of gold’ as translated by the TNIV) as recorded by Matthew in 25:14-28. The whole scenario intrigues me. A wealthy master in the fictional story summons his servants, spreads his wealth amongst them, and then promptly ‘makes like a baby and heads out’. Several things strike me about the narrative’s development as being particularly noteworthy and applicable. First is the basis for the uneven allocation—namely the ability of each servant. Verse 15 says: ‘To one he gave five bags of gold, to another two bags, and to another one bag, each according to his ability.’ A second fascinating piece is the fact that the master in the story establishes no strictures or requirements as to how each servant should go about the investment process. He ‘entrusts’ his wealth and then leaves (vs 15c). It comes across almost as if he could care less as to how they use the money so long as a profit is gained. He adds responsibility in keeping with their innate/intrinsic ability and expects them to act accordingly. Hmm. Third and last, it is implied that each steward has as his singular aim the advancement of his master’s honor, glory, and estate. Don’t forget the severity of each’s judgment. To the two who served well: ‘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’ (vs 23). These two merited the commendation of their master and were granted greater responsibility and the unmitigated joy accompanying association with their owner. To the fool however, it was said, ‘You wicked, lazy servant!’ This servant’s shocking end? He, called by his owner a ‘worthless servant’, is cast out into darkness where weeping and gnashing of teeth persist (also in unmitigated fashion).

Staggering, is it not? So the question with which I have been plagued of late and which I now cast upon your conscience for consideration is ‘how are you leveraging your gifts and corresponding entrustments for the Master’s good?’ (I got the ‘leveraging’ term from JR). Our pagan culture may be impressed with mere abilities, but Jesus is not, for he has given them to us. He has given them to us for a purpose: his advancement; not for our own consumption. You have been bought with a price, so glorify God with your body. Are you attractive? Intelligent? Studious? Technologically astute? Musical? Ambitious? Gregarious? Quick-witted? If you have some of these qualities (or all) and are tempted to be impressed and consequently self-satisfied…get over yourself. God hasn’t bestowed these things that we might be counted commendable by the world. What does it profit, brothers, to gain the world’s recognition if in the process we forfeit our souls? No, he’s gifted us so that we might wield them for kingdom purposes, for his cause. So, we would do well, I think, to assess our abilities (and to help one another see them), accept responsibilities fitting for those capabilities, and begin to wage war against Satan’s kingdom with a vigorous intentionality.

‘Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, let us be thankful, and so worship God acceptably with reverence and awe, for our “God is a consuming fire”’ (Heb 12:28).