Parable of the talents---part 1

Matthew 25:14-18 (NIV)

Again, it will be like a man going on a journey, who called his servants and entrusted his property to them. To one he gave five talents of money, to another two talents, and to another one talent, each according to his ability. Then he went on his journey.  The man who had received the five talents went at once and put his money to work and gained five more. So also, the one with the two talents gained two more. But the man who had received the one talent went off, dug a hole in the ground and hid his master's money. 

The parable of the Talents is one of some 50 parables (more if you count similes) that the Lord Jesus Christ taught to His disciples.  Like all His parables, this parable not only applied to His disciples but also applies to all His followers.  While it describes the use of money, it also teaches about our use or stewardship of time, possessions, and all else that our Lord provides to us.

A talent was valued at 6,000 denarii, an amount that would take an ordinary laborer 20 years to earn.  Some commentaries equate a talent to about $1,000, but that depends on the status of our economic times.  In these verses the “man” entrusted three of his servants with three different amounts of talents.  The first two servants with five and two talents entrusted to them doubled the investment.  The third servant with one talent entrusted to him did nothing.

This passage teaches that people are given different levels of skills, abilities, and gifts.  Sure, all of us wish that we would have five talents rather than two or one, but it is not our decision.  We must accept what we have been given and do our best to do all that we can with what we have been given.  God expects you to take whatever He has given to you and make the most of it.

In my many years of observing life in various modes---academics, business, athletics, society, and the church---I have often thought of this parable and how it applies in each of these modes.  I see individuals with superior intellectual capabilities, natural leadership qualities, skilled athletic prowess, superb personalities and transferable skills, and great abilities to preach, teach, lead, establish vision(s), and serve others.  These individuals have been entrusted with the equivalent of the five talents.  I also see individuals who have good but not great gifts, abilities, and skills in these different walks of life.  They have the equivalent of two talents.  And, then I see individuals who do not have great or even good natural skills, abilities, and gifts but I do see them doing the best they can and they are essential to the overall success of a school, institution, business, team, social environment, and/or church body.

I have also observed individuals who have been given the equivalent of one, two, or five talents who have not properly applied these skills, abilities and gifts.  Often we see this with our children or other family members.  Teachers and coaches and other leaders see superb intellectual, athletic, artistic or other potential in children, yet get very frustrated when these children do not take advantage of these endowed talents.  Maybe you see this in yourself as well?  Always keep in mind that God expects you to use His blessings entrusted to you for the good of others and to glorify Him.  If you keep on reading this parable you will learn that God considers a person “wicked” who does not use what he has been entrusted with.  Inactivity is wickedness and there are severe consequences to those who do not apply what they have been given by God.  There also are great blessings to those who do invest time, energy and money using the skills, abilities, and gifts---not matter how great or how small--God has given to you to fulfill His purposes in you.

“When I stand before God at the end of my life, I would hope that I would not have a single bit of talent left, and could say, ‘I used everything You gave me’” -- Erma Bombeck

Love one another

John 15:12 (NCV)

“This is My command: Love each other as I have loved you.”

The 15^th chapter of John is one of the best chapters in the entire Bible.  It starts by Jesus describing Himself being the true vine and His followers being the branches of the vine with the Father pruning the branches so that they may bear more fruit (good works).  In verses 7 and 8 Jesus gives a wonderful promise in that if you abide in Him and His Word abides in you, whatever you ask Him in prayer, He will do it.  By Him answering your prayers, since your prayers are based upon your abiding in Him and His Word, you will bear much fruit (have great impact for the Christian faith in the world) and prove to be His disciple.

Verse 12 of John 15 has been called the “11^th Commandment”.  Actually verse 12 through verse 17 describes this 11^th Commandment that we love one another.  If you are truly abiding in Christ (v 7) then you are getting along with other believers.  Loving others is a mark of a disciple of Christ.  If you are not getting along with other believers, if you are not loving them despite their flaws and weaknesses, then you are not abiding in Christ and you are not being a true disciple.  You have some work to do and you cannot accomplish it on your own. 

My two life-long friends are named Terry and Ron.  Terry lives in Michigan and Ron lives in Florida and just last week we three were together in Florida hanging out together.  We were talking about our 50+ years of friendship and I told them that someday (didn’t know that it would be this soon) that I would write about our friendship and use John 15:13 as our model verse.  They asked what does John 15:13 say.  I quoted it, “Greater love has no one than this, that one lay down his life for his friends”.  Both replied, “Whoa, wait a minute, I don’t know about that!!!”

They were joking (I think!), but there is no question, to put your life on the line for your friend takes the greatest that love can possibly be.  Note that in verse14a, Jesus stated that “You are My friends…….” and indeed Jesus did lay down His life for His friends.  But who are His friends?  Those who do what He commands (verse 14b).  So, again, you claim to be a believer, a follower, a disciple of Christ?  You are commanded by the Lord Himself to love others unconditionally just as He loves you. 

Evaluate your love for others—your spouse, children, other family members, and other believers.  Do you really love them such that you would lay down your life for them (husbands, read Ephesians 5:25)?  Do you really love them such that you would give up your own rights in deference to their rights?  Do you love them eternally just as God said that He loves you in Isaiah 54:8?  Be honest in your self-assessment.  Admit to God if you know that you do not show this kind of love and ask for His help to enable you to grow into someday soon showing this kind of love.  You can love others like God loves you through His presence fully in you.

Don't let your anger lead you into sin

Ephesians 4:26 (GN)

If you become angry, don’t let your anger lead you into sin.  

After reading the previous four devotionals, your conclusion should be that anger is a foolish and destructive emotion that you should completely eliminate from your life.  However, you come across this verse in Ephesians that suggests that anger is acceptable as long as it does not lead you into sin.  Some translations state, “Be angry, but do not sin; don’t let the sun go down on your anger”.  In other words, don’t go to bed still being angry. 

Note that the Bible states that it is okay to be angry.  But, it is not okay if your anger leads you to sin.  What sins result from anger?  The previous devotionals point these out.  The greatest sin resulting from anger is murder.  Not only anger leading to killing someone, but also murder that Jesus describes as calling others names that will produce anger (Matthew 5:22).  James 1:20 states that the anger of man does not achieve the righteousness of God.   

What are examples of being angry yet not committing sin?  Let’s look at examples of Jesus.   When Jesus cleared the temple of the moneychangers and animal-sellers, He showed great emotion and anger (Matthew 21:12-13; Mark 11:15-18; John 2:13-22). Jesus’ emotion was described as "zeal" for God’s house (John 2:17). His anger was pure and completely justified because at its root was concern for God’s holiness and worship.

Another time Jesus showed anger was in the synagogue of Capernaum. When the Pharisees refused to answer Jesus’ questions, “He looked around them in anger” (Mark 3:5). This verse goes on to give the reason for His anger: “the hardness of their hearts.”  Here are a few other revelations about Jesus’ displays of anger[1]:

·  His anger had the proper motivation. In other words, He was angry for the right reasons. Jesus’ anger did not arise from petty arguments or personal slights against Him. There was no selfishness involved.

·  His anger had the proper focus. He was not angry at God or at the “weaknesses” of others. His anger targeted sinful behavior and true injustice.

·  His anger had the proper supplement. Mark 3:5 says that His anger was attended by grief over the Pharisees’ lack of faith. Jesus’ anger stemmed from love for the Pharisees and concern for their spiritual condition. It had nothing to do with hatred or ill will.

·  His anger had the proper control. Jesus was never “out of control,” even in His wrath. The temple leaders did not like His cleansing of the temple (Luke 19:47), but He had done nothing amiss. He controlled His emotions; His emotions did not control Him.

·  His anger had the proper duration. He did not allow His anger to turn into bitterness; He did not hold grudges. He dealt with each situation properly, and He handled anger in good time.  He did not go to bed angry..

·  His anger had the proper result. Jesus’ anger had the inevitable consequence of godly action.  Jesus’ anger, as with all His emotions, was held in check by the Word of God; thus, Jesus’ response was always to accomplish God’s will.

You are to be angry when you see people sinning around you.  That should be your only motivation to be angry.  Yet you are to control that anger as Jesus did with the proper focus, reason, control, and duration with a positive end result.  When you look back on your life when you became angry, was your anger generated for the right reasons, was your anger held in proper control and was is quickly dissipated?  Were you showing the wrath of man (anger for the wrong reasons) or the wrath of God (anger for the right reasons)?

Think about all the situations in your life where you become angry.  Ask yourself the candid questions and give equally candid answers.  Are these reasons for showing anger in your life justifiable (seeing others commit sin, especially disrespect for God) or are they a result of foolish habits and practices in your life that must be eradicated? 

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[1] Summarized in http://www.gotquestions.org/Jesus-angry.html 

The Lord is with you wherever you go

Joshua 1:9 (NLT)

This is my command---be strong and courageous!  Do not be afraid or discouraged.  For the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.                 

This verse follows one of my favorite verses of the Old Testament.  Joshua 1:8 gives the secret to a prosperous and successful life:  “This book of the law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do according to all that is written in it; for then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have success”.  So, in light of verse 8, Joshua then gives this command—be strong and courageous and do not be afraid or discouraged.  In both verses, there is an underlying reason why anyone can claim prosperity, success, strength, courage, fearlessness, and encouragement—the fact that the Lord and His Word are always with you.  Yet, it takes great faith to believe and practice what these verses promise. 

When these verses were written, the Israelites were about to cross the Jordan River and enter the Promised Land of God.  There was a lot of fear facing the unknown despite God’s promises.  Remember that ten of the twelve spies (Joshua and Caleb the exceptions) had reported that this land they were about to invade contained people of great size and strength (Numbers 13:28-33).  Their fear became disbelief that the Lord was with them.  Therefore, they wandered in the wilderness for 40 years.  Joshua now was reminding all the people that they had no reason to fear entering the Promised Land because indeed the Lord was with them.

You read these verses, you are reminded to be strong and courageous, not to fear nor be discouraged because the Lord God is with you always.  Yet, be honest…..do you feel strong and courageous?  Are you fearing anything right now?  Are you discouraged right now?  Be honest!  If your response is positive, that you do feel strong and courageous, that you fear nothing (but God) and you are not discouraged over anything, you are richly blessed and it shows how deep your faith really is.  But, if your response admits problems with feeling strong and courageous, that you are afraid of what you are facing in your life and/or you are discouraged, then you need to pour over this verse and others (e.g. Isaiah 41:10, Proverbs 3:5-6, John 14:27, Philippians 4:6-7) and ask God to give you what you need.  Breathe in the Spirit of God and all His strength and courage and breathe out all the fear and discouragement in your heart.  Allow the Lord to take control of you mind, emotion, and will, indeed your soul.  Praise Him for His presence in your life.