(Based on Matthew 25:14-30)
There was a rich man who had to travel to a faraway land. In those days there was no bank. There was no possibility to invest money in a trusted manner. Hence he decided to split his money and gave it to his most trusted servants. Each one got a portion according to their skills & talents. The first one got more than the second one. The second one got more than the third one. The rich man went to a faraway land. He gave complete freedom to his trusted servants to invest his money in the business of their choice. All of his servants very well know one day their master will come back and they have to submit the records. The time flew. The rich man did not return for a long time.
When no one expected the rich man returned without giving any notice. He demanded his trusted servants to give an account of what he has entrusted to them. The first and second servants doubled their money by investing in other businesses. But the third one did not. He chose not to invest in any business. Hence he kept it hidden. The rich man was so upset with his third servant. What was the mistake of the third servant? Burying the item in a secret place is the traditional ancient method of storing or safeguarding the valuables. The third servant did exactly the same. Then why was the master upset with him? The master was upset that he never attempted to use what was given to him. This was a beautiful story Jesus narrated to explain how we will be measured at the end of our life.
It sounds like a story. But its a reality. God created every one of us with beautiful purpose and talents. He also gave us free will to use the talent the way we want to use it. Somebody could be a highly educated intellectual or musician or artist or anything else. Some might be having more talents and some might have less, but there is no one without any talent. Whatever talents we have, we have a choice to make the best use of it or bury it deep without ever looking at it.
One day, we don’t know when that day will come but God knows. We all need to stand before God that day and he will ask for the account of the talents he has given to us. He will ask a question at each one of us, what did you do for my glory using your talents? Yes, my friend. The talents we have can not be kept unused but must be used to glorify the God who created us. Not to glorify us. Many might chose to spend all our life to glorify and promote our self-interest using the talents that God has given us. As the story goes the rich man wants to know how much his servants have gained more using the money he has given to them. Similarly, we need to report on what we have done for God’s kingdom.
The final phase of this story Jesus shared shook my heart. The rich man took away the money from the servant who buried it and gave it to another servant who doubled his investment. If we do not use the gifts and talents God has given to us he is going to take away and give it to someone else. If we are not willing to obey or not willing to listen to God’s call, He is going to find someone else. But it was ours first. God has given us the precious gift, why it should be grabbed away from us be given to someone else? Because we never used it. We buried it. God found another man who is willing to make the best use of it. What a painful story it will be if we come to know in Heaven that we have lost precious God’s call. Our loss was someone’s gain. If it’s not us then God will fulfill the same purpose through someone else. His purpose will get fulfilled one or the other way.
My dear friend, wherever you are today, I would humbly ask you to check your heart. Did you ever have time to listen to God’s call in your life? If not, why don’t you start praying about it today? God will talk to you and show you His plans for you. May God bless you.