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.’ Matthew 25:20
Every person is given things that one can use. These can be given freely, or they can be purchased by self. It is common for people to use what they have for themselves. Time, money, and physical things are expected to bring joy and satisfaction to the individual, not to be given away to anyone else or used to build someone else up.
Matthew records Jesus speaking a parable about a master and some servants. One of the servants in the story tells the master that he had given him five talents and with that had gained five more talents.
The world loves to gain things for themselves. Culture pushes people to gain more and more. The more one has, the higher in status the person becomes. It does not matter if gaining something comes at a cost for someone else.
God works with a completely different mindset. He loves to use what He has to bless others and build others up. The ultimate giving was when God gave His One and Only Son Jesus to die for those who did not believe in Him to save them.
Believers have been given some talents in the salvation Jesus provided. Many hold on to those talents and use them for themselves, rather than sharing them and making more for God.
Every physical and non-physical thing a believer has is to be used for God’s glory, to build up His kingdom. The physical things and the salvation message of Jesus must be given out to others to gain more for God, not hoarded for one’s own selfish use.
If you examine your life, you will be able to see the talents God has given you. These may be things or abilities that you have available for your use. Do not allow yourself to be like the world and keep them to yourself, but share what God has blessed you with, with others. Use your talents to spread the gospel message around your community and the entire world.
Gain more for the kingdom of God so that in the end God will be able to say to you “Well done, good and faithful servant, enter into the kingdom of your Lord.”
Today I pray that you will know Jesus as your Lord and Savior; that you will see the talents that God has given you; that you will use all of your talents for His glory; and that you will build the kingdom of God with what God has given you; and that God will be pleased with how you have used what He has given you.
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This is an updated edition of a post originally published on Insights from Tom
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