Will You Be Found Faithful?

Friday, April 30th, 2010

Today's Passage: Matthew 25:14-30
Memory Verses: Matt. 25:23

Wars and rumors of wars everytime we turn on the news reveals to those of us who are watching that these are truly end times. Although it seems we've heard it too often, are we really living our lives as though Christ were to return soon? Here are some thoughts for your consideration as well as mine today. Is it possible that there might be more to living a saved life than just being free from sin? What is it that God is requiring of us before the trumpet sounds?

Jesus tells this parable to teach his disciples what their attitudes should be about service to Him. Like the three servants in this parable, we all have been given "talents", or gifts, according to our own abilities. That in itself is remarkable to me. Is it possible that we spend too much of our time trying to be like someone else, or compete with other believers who are gifted to do things we weren't? Often times, we don't think our abilities are as praiseworthy as those of others around us. So we do very little about using them, somehow thinking that God made a mistake when He created us.

Another awesome thing about this story is how the servants with the two and five talents conducted themselves. They immediately went to work, multiplying what they had been given. This confirms to me that those who desire to be productive barely have time to worry about what others are doing. Their main objective is to accomplish the will of the Father. They know how short life truly is, and how easy it is to get caught up in everything but what we were put on this earth to do.

The unfaithful servant, on the other hand, strikes me as extremely selfish. He hides his talent, using for an excuse that the lord of the house was a hard taskmaster. In other words, he refused to use the talent given to him because he thought his master was unfair in how he distributed his gifts. Is this how we see our Lord? Do we refuse to go above and beyond where we are because we resent Him for not blessing us the way He has blessed others? If you read the end of the story, you'll find that not only was the talent taken away from this servant whom the Lord called "wicked", but he was cast into outer darkness.

So back to my original question. Even if we lived holy and blameless lives as believers, but did nothing to serve God by using the talents He has given us on this earth, do you think He would still receive us into His heaven as "good and faithful servants"? Let's begin to truly search our hearts today and ask God to make us sensitive about what He wants us doing while we await His return. Because more than anything, what we want Him to say about us is that we were found faithful.

Prayer: Father, search our hearts today. If you find any selfish thoughts within that cause us to delay being productive for Your kingdom, please forgive and cleanse us. Renew our minds and set us on the course that will allow us to multiply the giftings You've placed wthin us. May everything we accomplish from sunrise to sunset be for the purpose of hearing You say, "Well done!" In Jesus' Name, Amen.