Living in fear!
Scripture reading for February 4th: Matthew 25
“And he also who had the two talents came forward, saying, ‘Master, you delivered to me two talents; here I have made two talents more.’ His master said to him, “Well done, good and faithful servant. You have been faithful over a little; I will set you over much. Enter into the joy of the master.’ He also who had received the one talent came forward, saying, ‘Master, I knew you to be a hard man, reaping where you did not sow, and gathering where you scattered no seed, so I was afraid, and I went and hid your talent in the ground. Here you have what is yours.’ But his master answered him, ‘You wicked and slothful servant! You knew that I reap where I have not sown and gather where I scattered no seed? Then you ought to have invested my money with the bankers, and at my coming I should have received what was my own with interest.'” Matthew 25:22-27
When we do not know God from personal experience, we tend to make assumptions about His character. Sin has blinded us and given us a self-centered world view. Jesus, in answering His disciples questions about what it would be like when He returned, told this parable of a master giving property and money to his stewards. One got five talents, one two talents, and one got one talent, each according to their abilities. They were told to do his business. The master went away for an undisclosed time. The stewards each acted on their assignments, some in faith and one in fear.
The master returned and brought these stewards in for an accounting. The one with five had gotten five more. The one with two had gotten two more. Both were commended and rewarded. The one with one talent returned giving back the one talent. His statement revealed his fear of the master and his feeling of the master as a hard man who was unjust in reaping where he did not sow. He hid his talent in the ground and returned it without increase. For this, he lost his position as a steward and was sent away to suffer. This parable is meant to cause us to evaluate our stewardship of the talents God has blessed us with. Are we investing in faith according to God’s instruction in His Word or living in fear?
Prayer: Father God, thank You for these clear parables concerning conditions among mankind when Your Son returns. Help me to wisely invest Your talents given to me that I might have increase to offer You when I see You again. I desire to hear You say to me, “Well done, good and faithful servant!” Amen.
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