Use It or Lose It

Read Matthew 25:14-30

     The “it” in 25:14 is “the kingdom of heaven” as in 25:1.  The kingdom of heaven “will be like a man going on a journey, who called his servants and entrusted to them his property” (25:14).  Then the master went away, and didn’t come back for a long time (25:15,19).  It has been a long time since the Master went away, hasn’t it?  Almost 2,000 years. 

      But one day the master will return, and settle accounts.  Two of the servants in Jesus’ story were lauded and rewarded for their faithfulness at using what had been entrusted to them to enlarge the Master’s estate.  Their reward was even greater responsibilities, and an even greater joy in his approval and reward.  But one servant had done nothing at all with what had been entrusted to him – in this he blamed the Master’s over-demanding character, but the real problem was the servant’s internal disposition of wickedness and laziness.  He wouldn’t have wanted a reward of greater responsibility anyway.  But he probably didn’t want his relationship with the Master severed altogether, and certainly not to be cast out into the outer darkness, a place of bitter regret and agony. 

      Every person comes into this world having been entrusted by God with particular gifts.  A capacity for faith.  A certain span of life.  A particular “talent” (in the modern sense).  A place of usefulness.  Enter into the joy of serving the Master now with what he has given, so that you will enter the joy of his reward later.