Thursdays will now be called, Thoughtful Thursdays around here! I'm going to give you chance to hear thoughts from someone else in my family. I can't tell you how excited I am about this. Believe it or not, our family doesn't get a lot of "sitting around and chatting time" since John and I added four kids to the mix, so this is as much of a treat for me as it is for you...
Today's Guest Post is by my Dad...
(better known around here as "Gramps")
Forty Years, Lesson by Lesson
Lesson One - Stewardship
I was in high school when God softened my heart, revealed Himself and said “follow me”. I was encouraged to learn of the special plan He had for my life, that unique journey with a fulfilling purpose especially for me. He required that I humble myself before Him and yield my will to His. He promised that if I remain faithful as I encounter hardships, challenges and opportunities along the way, He would not let loose of my hand. Over the nearly forty years of my journey with Him, I clearly recognize those periods when I let go of His hand and was on my own. When the mess became more than I could clean up, I would reach for His hand once more and feel Him take hold with a firm grip, ready to continue our journey together.
I was an adolescent when my journey with God began, filled with faith and enthusiasm for what lie ahead. Anxious to please God, I endeavored to know all I could about Him. My heart was open and receptive, allowing those early lessons to entrench deep within. As most adolescent do, I took everything for granted and appreciated nothing. Family, friends, my home, school, resources, everything was in place and life was good. God quickly caused me to appreciate that my life and everything apart of it were His gifts. I learned that when God thought me into existence, he had a purpose. The body I was equipped with, my mind, my every capability, my place in time, my place in this world, the people around me, everything resulted from His intention. I could take credit for nothing for all had been His gift to me. He taught me to take inventory of all these gifts and be grateful. His first lessons for me would be about stewardship.
I find many in God’s family think of stewardship as applying to possessions or financial resources, but His call of responsibility extends beyond such things. Stewardship applies to all of God’s gifts to us and requires our effort to care for and use these gifts as He intends. I have always remembered the admonition of an old, retired reverend who attended the church of my youth. He was accomplished, highly respected and warmly received by all who knew him. Dignified and cheerful, he dressed smartly, had a beaming smile and twinkling eye. On one occasion, he was part of a group discussion focused on the use of God’s gifts. As was his custom, he listened quietly as the group piously drowned on in agreement. As if impatient with to much good intention, he finally asked to speak.
“May I offer a lesson I have learned?’ he began. After being encouraged to do so he continued: “God has taught me to appreciate all that He has given me. As I have stood before the Lord these many days, I have endeavored to stand fully prepared to answer His call. This takes my best effort every day. My body is not maintenance-free nor will my faith grow without constant use. It is my efforts to appreciate, use and sustain His gifts that honor and please the Lord my God. Your discussion is admirable but who among you will make the efforts you speak of.”
The reverend’s words have remained with me to this day. His life was a testimony to the efforts he spoke of and was imploring us to make. I envisioned how pleased God must have been to have a servant so determined to be ready and willing. In the book of Matthew, Jesus used strong words to declare how important these efforts are. If you are familiar with this passage, please read it again, but this time, please read it slowly.
Matthew 25
Parable of the Talents
14 “For it is just like
a man about to go on a journey, who called his own slaves and entrusted
his possessions to them. 15 To one he gave five talents, to another,
two, and to another, one, each according to his own ability; and he went on his
journey. 16 Immediately the one who had received the five talents
went and traded with them, and gained five more talents. 17 In the
same manner the one who had received the two talents gained two
more. 18 But he who received the one talent went away, and
dug a hole in the ground and hid his master’s money.
19 “Now after a long time the master of those
slaves came and settled accounts with them. 20 The one who had
received the five talents came up and brought five more talents, saying,
‘Master, you entrusted five talents to me. See, I have gained five more
talents.’ 21 His master said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful
slave. You were faithful with a few things, I will put you in charge of many
things; enter into the joy of your master.’ 22 “Also the one who had received the two talents came up and said, ‘Master, you entrusted two talents to me. See, I have gained two more talents.’ 23 His master said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful slave. You were faithful with a few things, I will put you in charge of many things; enter into the joy of your master.’
24 “And the one also who had received the one talent came up and said, ‘Master, I knew you to be a hard man, reaping where you did not sow and gathering where you scattered no seed. 25 And I was afraid, and went away and hid your talent in the ground. See, you have what is yours.’
26 “But his master answered and said to him, ‘You wicked, lazy slave, you knew that I reap where I did not sow and gather where I scattered no seed. 27 Then you ought to have put my money [d]in the bank, and on my arrival I would have received my money back with interest. 28 Therefore take away the talent from him, and give it to the one who has the ten talents.’
29 “For to everyone who has, more shall be given, and he will have an abundance; but from the one who does not have, even what he does have shall be taken away. 30 Throw out the worthless slave into the outer darkness; in that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.
The parable refers to a talent as symbolic of the physical, material and spiritual resources God has entrusted to those that follow Him. In verse 15, Jesus teaches that resources are distributed according to the recipient’s abilities. God has made us and is certainly aware of any illness or injury that has changed us. It is not the strongest or most intellectual who is considered able. Rather, ability is measured by the efforts we make with what we have. We should not be surprised to learn that those in the parable entrusted with more, were faithful. God knows His servants. He knew those entrusted with more were ready and willing to do more. He also knew that the person to whom he allotted fewer resources was not ready or prepared to handle anymore than they received. God declares resoundingly that those willing to make the effort stewardship requires are entrusted with even more resources. Lazy and wicked is how God describes those whose gifts lie buried and dormant.
As I begin this New Year, my hope is that more followers will answer the call of stewardship. If physical gifts remain buried, make the effort to get fit. If spiritual gifts are idle, make the effort to put them in motion. Use material resources to honor the bearer of these gifts. Imagine how different life is for the servant with 5 talents in contrast to the servant with just one. Entrusted with a generous portion of God’s resources to manage, life is full, purposeful and rewarding. It is the effort to make the most of what we have that earns more of God’s trust and transforms a follower into a 5 talent servant.
I submit that there is no greater reward in this life than to hear the words;
“Well done, good and faithful slave. You were faithful with a few things, I will put you in charge of many things; enter into the joy of your master.’
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Great post. Really makes me think! Thanks for sharing.
Me too, Cathy...God intends so much for us!!! Thanks for sharing too :)