(Inspired by Pastor Ben Chenjele of Faith Alive, Jos, Nigeria)
Valerie Rae Hanneman
Matthew 25:28-30 (Message) “Take the thousand and give it to the one who risked the most. And get rid of this “play-it-safe” who won’t go out on a limb. Throw him into utter darkness.”
When I was much younger, the company I was working for started to go under and economics dictated that my position be cut to part time. Fawn’s father and I decided that this was the perfect opportunity for me to try to fulfill a dream – that of owning my own business. And so “The Bookie’s” Bookkeeping Service was born. We bought a computer, filed the paperwork with the city, and opened for business. Guess what – customers did not come beating down my door. I quickly learned that owning my own business took a lot more work that simply being a great bookkeeper. I had to go out and drum up business. A year later I had clients and things were looking better, but the company I was working for closed their doors. Finances dictated that I go out and find another job. I tried working full-time while still building my business from my home – but it was simply to difficult to continue to work for such a little – if any - profit. And so “The Bookies” was no more. No profit – no business.
The Word told a parable on hot afternoon while He was sitting with His disciples at the Mount of Olives. He told about a man who went to a far country. Before he left he called his servants together. To one he gave $10,000 to another $5,000 and to the last servant $1,000. When the master returned and called his servants to give an account of what they had been given. The first servant had used the $10,000 to earn an additional $10,000. With much joy the master commended his servant and put him in a position of high authority. The second servant had taken the $5,000 and earned $5,000 more. Again the joy, the commendation and the added authority. The third servant was a different story. “I know that you are a hard man,” he began, “and so I was afraid and I took the money and hid it so I would not lose it. Here is your money.” The master was outraged. “You say yourself that I am a hard man – and this is what you chose to do? To hid the money away? You could have at least put it in the bank and earned interest with it!” The master took the thousand away and sent the third servant away from him in disgrace.
Jesus is our Master. Our hearts know it, our words confirm it, and our actions should give power to it. He is gone into a far county (heaven) and will shortly be returning for us (even so, Come LORD Jesus.) While He is gone He has given us gifts to be used in His work. To some He has given the gift of evangelism, to others the gift of teaching, preaching, singing, administration, hospitality, washing dishes, doing gardening, loving on the unloveables, painting walls, and so on and so on. There are no limits to the types of gifts that He has given. Each person has been given at least one gift and each person is expected to invest that gift into expanding the kingdom of God.
God is a businessman; He expects to see a profit off of what He has invested with us. He is not looking for a financial gain (why should He? He owns it all anyway) He is looking for the most valuable return on His investment – souls rescued into His eternal life.
Just as the master went away and expected his servants to use what they had been given to profit him, Jesus expects us to take the gifts that we have been given to profit His kingdom. But unlike the master that went away to a far country, leaving his servants on their own, we do not have to depend upon ourselves to maximize the profit from our gifts. Our Master is with us to show us, lead us and teach us what our gifts are and how best to use them. All that we have to do is to surrender ourselves to Him, to give Him willing hearts, willing hands and willing feet. And one more thing – we have to give Him our fears of trying something new and we have to draw from Him the courage to take that step out of our comfort zone.
I believe that if the master had come home and one of the servants had had a loss on his investment he still would have preferred that to the servant who did nothing. He would have preferred that because, even though there was a loss, the servant tried his best. It was the servant who did nothing with the investment who drew the wrath of the master. The servant knew that his master was a businessman who expected to receive profit from his investment but he did not even do the very least possible – which was to put the money in the bank and collect the interest. As a result the investment was taken away from him and given to servant who had proved to be worthy.
How are you using your gifts and how are you profiting the Master? How we use our gifts – if we use our gifts - is our choice. It always has been. Master Jesus will not force us to use our gifts. We can say “I’m not comfortable doing that.” “I am afraid of failure” or any of the multitudes of excuses that we can think up to not step out of our comfort zone. Some of the time we chose not even to use our gifts for the bare minimum – which would be to use our gifts to strengthen our relationship with the Master. If we do not use our gifts will Jesus throw us out of the Kingdom in disgrace? No – He could not because then our salvation would depend upon our own actions – and that is not His plan. But I do think that our Master will be disappointed in us, and He will take our gift away, put us on the “inactive” list and let us be until we are willing to help Him make a profit.
How much better it is to be the servant who takes a chance, who uses the gifts to turn a profit, and increases the bottom line of heaven. If this earthly master was so rich in his praises to his servants, how much more so will be our Master of Heaven and earth? I don’t know about you, but I live for the moment when I hear Jesus say to me, “Well done, good and faithful servant.” That is my most sought after hope and dream.
This sought after moment will be true for all of us if we chose to use what the Master has invested in us to turn a profit for Him.
Master Jesus, guide me in how best to use the gifts You have given me to profit Your Kingdom. Help me to be the servant that receives Your approval.
Contact Valerie or sign up for the e-Ministry of Fresno First Baptist at valerie@fresnofirst.org