Scripture:
Matthew 25:14-30 NKJV
[14] “For the kingdom of heaven is like a man traveling to a far country, who called his own servants and delivered his goods to them. [15] 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. [16] Then he who had received the five talents went and traded with them, and made another five talents. [17] And likewise he who had received two gained two more also. [18] But he who had received one went and dug in the ground, and hid his lord’s money. [19] After a long time the lord of those servants came and settled accounts with them. [20] “So he who had received five talents came and brought five other talents, saying, ‘Lord, you delivered to me five talents; look, I have gained five more talents besides them.’ [21] His lord said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant; you were faithful over a few things, I will make you ruler over many things. Enter into the joy of your lord.’ [22] He also who had received two talents came and said, ‘Lord, you delivered to me two talents; look, I have gained two more talents besides them.’ [23] His lord said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant; you have been faithful over a few things, I will make you ruler over many things. Enter into the joy of your lord.’ [24] “Then he who had received the one talent came and said, ‘Lord, I knew you to be a hard man, reaping where you have not sown, and gathering where you have not scattered seed. [25] And I was afraid, and went and hid your talent in the ground. Look, there you have what is yours.’ [26] “But his lord answered and said to him, ‘You wicked and lazy servant, you knew that I reap where I have not sown, and gather where I have not scattered seed. [27] So you ought to have deposited my money with the bankers, and at my coming I would have received back my own with interest. [28] Therefore take the talent from him, and give it to him who has ten talents. [29] ‘For to everyone who has, more will be given, and he will have abundance; but from him who does not have, even what he has will be taken away. [30] And cast the unprofitable servant into the outer darkness. There will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.’
Observation:
The change in my daily schedule has really thrown me off. Over the past few years I had built a routine that was pretty solid. The enemy is very crafty in how he sidetracks us from our purpose. He never comes all at once but little by little. The shift in my schedule has not caused me to steer away from GOD’S word. That will always be the foundation of my life. However like I said at the start of this SOAP the enemy is very crafty. He knows how to put you out of your element just enough to bury what GOD has called you to do. So let’s look at what the scripture has to say about it. Matthew has been one of my favorite books to write out of. I have honestly written more SOAPS out of it than I have any other book. So its no surprise that I would find the answer to what i am facing here in chapter 25. A question was asked from one of HIS disciples in chapter 24 and verse 3, “Tell us when these things will be? And what will be the signs of Your coming, and of the end of the age. After a long very descriptive answer of what the end times will look like. Starting with a very clear directive to take heed that no one deceive you, for many will come in HIS name. Now if your Bible is anything like mine. It has the entire chapter of Matthew chapter 24 divided into different sections. Do not be deceived by this Matthew chapter 24 is a running commentary of what the end times will look like that runs through the end of chapter 25. So if you are like me and you want to know what the end time are going to look like you can do one of two things. Look around and see what the would looks like today and you will get a good picture, or you can read these two chapters in there entirety and then take a look around, and understand completely. Looking at that picture its no surprise that the enemy wants our lamp to run out of oil, He wants us to get complacent. Right now us the time to press on. Looking at the scripture that we were led to today i want to bring up a point. Not only is it important to be asking that the Holy Spirit fill our lamps with HIS oil so that our light does not go out but its important for us to be using our GOD given talents for kingdom work. The scripture says, “The kingdom of heaven is like a MAN traveling to a far country, who called HIS own servants and delivered HIS goods to them. Now I’m pretty sure that I don’t really have to explain that what is being described here is the departure of Christ from earth. Jesus is giving HIS disciples the information they will need to carry on HIS work, and honestly as the scripture talks about even greater works than the ones HE did. As HE continues to prepare them for this time, HE explains what HE is doing in a parable known as the parable of the talents. HE is distributing to HIS disciples what they will need to build the kingdom. I want us to notice that not everyone is give the same amount, in fact the talents that are given seem to be distributed in a rather unfair (by the world’s standard) manner. Yet they are distributed according to what the matter knows the servant can handle. To one servant HE gives five talents, to another two talents, and to the final servant HE gives one talent. I find it rather interesting that what we call talents in our society is way different than what is being referred to here, however, in a way its not. A talent in those days was approximate 75 to 125 pound it was a way of measuring the weight of precious metals such as gold and silver. One talent was roughly enough to cover 20 years wages for labor. The reason I want to bring that out is because I want us to see the value in what is being said, even though they way we are looking at this may be slightly different, in the deepest way its not. So what is being said in this parable is theses servants were being trusted with something very valuable. The first servant was being trusted with more than he could earn in a lifetime, by the time the second servant earns what he had been given he would be on the backside of about 80 years old. The value of what was give has a level of importance in the parable. It shows what the LORD knew they could handle. HE was aware of exactly what HE was doing. As HE left the servants did exactly what HE knew they would do they started putting what the had been given to work…. Well two of them did. The servant that had only been given one talent was overwhelmed. He took what he was give and out of fear hid it. Its not because he didn’t know the value of it. He was given 20 years wages. The value was clear. It was fear that had driven his decision to dig a hole and bury what GOD had given him. As the master returns for HIS trip he calls those servants to HIM so that HE could see how things went while HE was away. As the reports come in you can see the reward system that was put in place. Those who saw the value of what they were given and did everything they could to increase that value where given more. But the one who knew the value and let fear rule his decisions… well you can see the results in the scripture. He was called wicked and cast into eternal darkness, where there is weeping and gnashing of teeth. I’m sure at this point this parable is pretty self explanatory. But i was led here this morning for a reason.
Application:
I am going to be as honest as I know how right now. I am a very routine person. I tend to do the same thing over and over. A creature of habit you might say. When that routine shifts it shakes me in a way that is hard to explain. It’s hard to adjust to. Over the last month my routine has shifted, and its put me in a place where I am outside of my comfort zone. That shift has made me have to readjust. Believe me it has not been easy. I do not want to be the servant who takes what GOD has given him and place it in a hole, nor do I want to run out of oil in my lamp. Right now in my life I am having to press on. So let me explain for those who still read these SOAPS. I am a 9th grade high-school drop-out. I have struggled with addiction my entire life. In 2018 I found freedom from a method addiction that had held me captive for more years than I want to mention. When Jesus found me I could not really read and writing was the furthest thing from my mind. I struggled to even fill out a job application. I say that tel explain what GOD has done and give HIM the full amount of glory that HE deserves. I was illiterate. I couldn’t really read and could barely write. But GOD placed a bible in my hand and HE went to work in my life. HE gave me a desire to not be deceived. In order for that to happen HE had to teach me how to read. When HIS Holy Spirit got involved, the game was changed. HE began to write HIS word on my heart. I began to understand what HE was saying. What I am saying is today I read and understand the Bible in a way that I never thought possible. It’s a GOD given talent. I started writing about the bible almost 3 years ago, and over that time this SOAP thread has developed along with a web page. All things I could have never done. GOD given talents. In the last month I have seen the enemy place a shovel in my hand and do his best to get me to dig a hole, but I am doing my best not to let that happen. My schedule has shifted and I am outside my comfort zone, but he will not win. The talents GOD gave me will be put to uses for the kingdom. Today I am a writer. Its not at all what I thought GOD would have me do. Writing was not something I desired to to but its what GOD has given me. It’s a GOD given talent that the enemy would love to bury. Today I refuse to let him have one more second of my time, talent, or treasure. Fear has no home here. My encouragement to you today is if you find yourself in a place where the enemy is trying to get you to pick up a shovel and bury what GOD has given you. Make a stand. Take the authority that the LORD has given you and tell him to go to hell where he belongs.
Prayer:
Father, today we come to you the only way we know how, humbly and honestly. We need you in every second of our lives. We do not want our light to run out. We do not want to be pushed back into a corner. We want what you have given us to be displayed for the world to see. Not for our glory but for yours. We know that there is no reason for us to be where we are but you have placed us there. As we continue to fight through what the world say…. “You can’t, you won’t, no one will read what you say,” and so on we asks that you will help us to push past all that into what you say… “you can, because I have, you will because I did, you are able because I have strengthened you. Father, our lives are built around your words. Help us to put down the shovel, and put what you have given us to work for your kingdom. It’s in the mighty name of Jesus we pray amen.