“Response-ability: Use it or Lose it”
Matthew 25:14-29
Chan Willis – C.P.C. June 13, 2010 “Response-ability: Use it or Lose it” Matthew 25:14-29 This month we are considering the virtue of “responsibility”… “showing that we can be trusted with what is expected of us.” It is based on the Scripture from Luke 16:10, “Whoever can be trusted with very little can also be trusted with much.” Our focus in June, therefore, is on how well we demonstrate to God, and to others, that we can make ‘wise choices’ with the resources that God has given us. Are we doing a good job in ‘responding’ to the gifts God gives us… our ‘response-ability.’ Last week we began by looking at the ‘natural resources’ God has given us in His creation of the heavens and the earth. How we can be better stewards of the ‘good earth’ God’s hands hath made… and that our hands can readily spoil. This week we consider a different type of ‘natural resource.’ Gifts given to us by God just as valuable as the mountains and oceans that surround us. These gifts, however, are not outside of us, but inside. Resources not of an earthly nature, but rather, of our human nature. Today we consider how we are using… or not using… the abilities and gifts that God has given each and every one of us. Our talents. And, of how if we do not use those talents, we might well lose them. Our story begins with a man leaving on a journey. Obviously a man of some considerable means … for he has at least 3 servants. He also must have a very high degree of trust for these servants… for he gives them each a great amount of money to be responsible for. Even the smallest amount, the one talent, would amount to at least a year’s wages (if it were silver). If gold, it would be worth 20 years compensation for a laborer! These were definitely well-thought-of workers. So, as we know, 2 of the 3 took their responsibility seriously, doubling what they were given. But the last one, who was given the least amount, accordingly expended the least effort… he dug a hole in the ground and hid his master’s riches. And, as we might expect, the master was thrilled with efforts of the two industrious servants… and pretty put out with the third. The former he calls “good and faithful”… the latter, “wicked (and) lazy.” As we would consider the meaning of this story, it might appear to be pretty clear. The “master” would be our ‘Lord and Master,’ Jesus Christ, who has more wealth and power than we could ever imagine. The One who ‘left on a journey’ only He could travel, leaving behind His faithful servants…US. Our Master also does not leave us ‘empty-handed.’ He leaves us with many riches of great worth… many ‘talents.’ And if we do not use them wisely, our Lord will not be pleased with us. In fact, He will be downright angry! But there is more than meets the eye here. For this is more than just about making the most of what you’ve been given. More than about mere ‘productivity.’ More than our Heavenly Master’s displeasure with not using our God-given talents. For me, the key to this story lies at the end of the passage. Upon expressing his anger at the ‘wicked, lazy servant,’ the master commands to “take the talent from him and give it to the one who has the ten talents.” That “everyone who has will be given more, and will have an abundance… (but) whoever does not have, even what he has will be taken from him.” (v. 28) This verse indicates that there is indeed a consequence for mis-use… or more accurately, non-use… of the talents, the gifts, the abilities, that God gives us. Let’s face it… all of us are, to some extent, ‘burying’ our talents when it comes to using it for the sake of the One who gave it to us. For example, there are some very articulate, knowledgeable people in here. (You know who you are! J) When was the last time you used your God-given ability to communicate to talk to someone about the importance of Christ in your life? Or, maybe its artistic talents that could be used in our VBS. Perhaps its money management skills that could be utilized in the church’s finance and administration. Or maybe you’re handy with tools…be it a hammer, or a spatula… and could help with Habitat, or in our own kitchen or yard. The point is, each one of you has many gifts that could be used for the glory of God, and we each must give thought to how we are using those wisely. For if we ‘bury’ those talents, are we in effect ‘burying’ ourselves? As we consider the depth of meaning in this story, we should remember its genre, its type. This is a parable. It is metaphorical in nature, where the true significance lies beneath the surface. Jesus did a lot of his teaching through parables. As I pondered the importance of that last verse in the passage, about the consequence of non-use of talents given to us by the “master,” I came upon some words spoken by Jesus previously in this Gospel of Matthew. In fact, I would like to ask you to read it with me. If you would pick up your pew Bibles, and turn to Matthew Ch. 13, beginning in v. 10. This passage deals in general with the use of parables by Jesus, and specifically with the last verse of today’s Scripture reading. [read through vs. 17] I believe that we might be lead to believe that Jesus employed the use of parables to make understanding and following His teachings easier. But these words of Jesus remind us that just because one sees or hears, does not mean they understand. There were plenty of folks who heard these ‘simple stories’ and di not get it. That what might appear on the surface to be a simply analogy indeed went much deeper. And that to truly see and hear what Jesus was saying, one must “understand with their heart.” As best as I can ‘understand with my heart,’ this parable is not simply about how we mis-use the talents that God gives us, but WHY we do. Not only that there is a consequence for our in-action, but the reason for that consequence. Jesus says, in both of these passages from Matthew, that “everyone who has will be given more… (and) whoever does not have, even that will be taken from him.” ‘Everyone who has WHAT will be given more’? ‘Whoever does not have WHAT will have it taken from him’? An understanding heart, that’s what. A heart for Jesus. The core message of this parable is more than two guys who were faithfully diligent and one fearful worker who messed up. That one servant knew in his head the kind of master he served. But he was overcome by fear of him. He didn’t know him in his heart. This servant could see with his eyes, and hear with his ears, but did not understand with his heart. And because he did not have a heart that was in tune with his master, what he had was taken away. Something we can lose when we consider a particular passage is its context… what may have come before that helps us to better understand what it is saying to us. In verse 1 of this 25th Chapter of Matthew, Jesus prefaces these parables by saying that “The kingdom of heaven will be like…” Jesus talks a LOT about the “kingdom of heaven.” He certainly does in this first Gospel. I am reminded of the words Jesus speaks in the 6th chapter, in His perfect model for prayer, where He says, “Thy kingdom come, (and) Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven.” The kingdom that awaits us in heaven is also one that we are building now, here, today, on earth. As you and I seek to build God’s earthly kingdom, may we use wisely all the gifts that He has given us for that ‘construction project.’ As we ‘study the blueprints’ for this project, as found in God’s Word, let us remember that our success in this venture is not based on what we see, or hear, or do. To hear those words of the Master… “Well done, good and faithful servant…come and share in your master’s happiness”… it’s not about calloused hands. But an UN-calloused heart… a heart for Jesus. Friends, Jesus has given us so many talents, so many gifts. Let’s use it… not lose it. Amen?
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