What Do You Have in your Hand (6)

What Do You Have in your Hand (6)

Do you remember "The Parable of the Talents or the Bags of Gold?" You'll do well to read the parable, in Matthew 25: 14 - 30, to help drive home the importance of "What God has put in your hands."

In the parable, a man going on a journey called his servants and entrusted his wealth to them.

After he gave five, two and one bag of gold, to three of his servants respectively, each according to his ability to utilize it, he went on his journey.

The man who had received five bags of gold went at once and put his money to work and gained five bags more, while the one with two gained two more, but the man who had received one bag went off, dug a hole in the ground and hid his master's money.

After a long time away the master of the servants returned and settled accounts of what he had invested with them.

The man who had received five bags of gold and brought five more to his Master while the man entrusted with two bags of gold also came and presented double as well.

The master replied both of them, "Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master's happiness!"

However, the man who had received one bag of gold returned exactly what he was given with no gain, and with the excuse that he hid the gold in the ground because he was afraid, even though he knew that his master was a hard man, harvesting where he did not sown and gathering where he did not scatter seed.

His masters reply to him was, 
"You wicked, lazy servant! 
So you knew that I harvest where I have not sown and gather where I have not scattered seed?" 
"Well then, you should have put my money on deposit with the bankers, so that when I returned I would have received it back with interest."

The Masters judgment on his pathetic case was to take the bag of gold from him and give it to the one who had 10 bags with the stern warning that:

"..whoever has will be given more, and they will have an abundance. Whoever does not have, even what they have will be taken from them."

In Ephesians 4: 7 to 8, it is written, 
7. But to each one of us grace has been given as Christ apportioned it.
8. This is why it says: “When he ascended on high, he took many captives and gave gifts to his people.”

The man who went on a journey is Jesus Christ, who left us to be with the Father but entrusted us with gifts according to our level of faith and ability.

The good and faithful servants who had been faithful with the few things they received from their master and gained more, were told that they will be put in charge of many things and were invited to share in their master's happiness.

While, the outer darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth that the worthless servant was said to have been thrown into represented Hell which unfortunately will be the eternal abode of Satan and all those who don't acknowledge God, as well as wicked and lazy servants.

Many people are like the man who had received one bag. They have abandoned the seemingly menial gift God has endowed them with because they were too busy comparing what they have with what others have that seemingly look more appealing. 

God is a business man like no other. His business is the redemption of the souls of men to Himself, and as a Sovereign God, will demand a return on His investment from all of us.

The warning of His imminent coming to settle accounts with us can be appreciated in these words he said in Luke 12: 40, that I believe is now saying to you and me now: 

"You also must be ready, because the Son of Man will come at an hour when you do not expect him.”

Finally, note that God gave the un-utilized bag of gold he took from the foolish servant to the one who had 10 bags instead of the one with 2. Do you know why?