Make Them Work! (Part Two)

Good morning.

In our parable in Matthew 25:14-30 the master went away for some time. He has actually made quite a good financial move. To make sure his business kept growing and the servants brought their side, he gave them interest in the business. They each had their own share to manage and so the business would grow. That is why he was so angry with the lazy servant who didn’t let the business grow.

With regard to people’s talents there are two ‘businesses’ that are important to the Lord. One is the development of the earth and the other the development of God’s Kingdom. “For ‘the earth is the Lord's, and the fullness thereof’ (1 Corinthians 10:26).” Even though the devil deceived Adam and took control of the world over from him, the earth still belongs to the Lord and He wants to see it developed. For this purpose He gave men different talents and gifts and a share in the earth and it is He that gives men ideas.

The world was made through Jesus as we read in John 1:3, but if we’re honest, it didn’t really stop there. “All things were made through him, and without him was not any thing made that was made. In him was life, and the life was the light of men. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it (John 1:3-5).” Ideas of things made by people don’t just appear in man’s mind. It has to come from somewhere and their source is the continuous Creator. This light shining in the darkness doesn’t only refer to spiritual darkness, but also to intellectual darkness. The dark Middle Ages were enlightened by developments and knowledge, weren’t they – knowledge from Jesus.

The talents that man received therefore keep the development of the earth going. The Master started this business of His by creating the earth and then left it to man. Its development continues as men use these talents that the Master had handed out to make a difference to this earth. If individuals thus hide their talents, it means something is not going to develop and change and the Master’s business, the earth, is not going to develop properly.

We may reason that not all talents are used for the good of God. This is true, but this is because Satan took control of these developments over from Adam. The Lord is faithful in His plans, though. When Satan deceived Adam, the Lord did not take man’s talents back, for He still needed man to develop the earth. Things like computers and television were actually developed for the good of man and the Kingdom. God meant for it to spread the gospel quicker. It is Satan and man’s carnal nature who stole it for the use of corrupting man.

When the Master started His business called the earth, He had envisioned where we are today. When Jesus declared that His disciples will do greater things than He did (John 14:12) He had in mind internet, television, radio, aeroplanes and telephones, which is why He handed out His talents so His servants could get on with the job.

Jesus used the talents of all people to develop His earth and will call all to account (Matthew 16:27), but He can only use the gifts of His people, the Christians, to develop His Kingdom, which is what we’re going to look at tomorrow.

Lord, I pray for all people to use their talents with wisdom. Help me to use my talents so I don’t have to hear the words ‘You wicked and slothful servant!’ (Matthew 25:26) and don’t have to be casted into the outer darkness (Matthew 25:30).

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