Our scripture this week is Matthew 25:14-30, today from the New International Version (NIV).
“Again, it will be like a man going on a journey, who called his servants and entrusted his wealth to them. To one he gave five bags of gold, to another two bags, and to another one bag, each according to his ability. Then he went on his journey. The man who had received five bags of gold went at once and put his money to work and gained five bags more. So also, the one with two bags of gold gained two more. But the man who had received one bag 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 five bags of gold brought the other five. ‘Master,’ he said, ‘you entrusted me with five bags of gold. 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 two bags of gold also came. ‘Master,’ he said, ‘you entrusted me with two bags of gold; 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 one bag of gold 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 gold 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. “‘So take the bag of gold from him and give it to the one who has ten bags. For whoever has will be given more, and they will have an abundance. Whoever does not have, even what they have will be taken from them. And throw that worthless servant outside, into the darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.’
This is another lesson about Jesus’ return and what is expected of us. It speaks of our gifts and the responsibility to use them well. The “wicked, lazy servant” is said to represent the Scribes and Pharisees, who been given the gift of God’s law but did nothing with it to benefit their Master or others.
We are all gifted differently but we are all expected to use them in a manner that glorifies God and lifts up those around us. When we fail to do this, our gifts are wasted, as if we’d buried them in the ground. Jesus spoke often of our blessings and why it was important to share them.
Think of something that you are good at because of God’s gift to you, and make a conscious effort to use it today. The blessing we receive is never diminished when we use it, instead it is ready to use again and often made stronger through our sharing. God is with us when we use His gifts well.
Loving Lord, we often ignore the wonderful things You have placed in us and miss the joy of sharing them with others. Help us to be willing servants, ready to use our gifts for the good of others. Amen.