"However, I consider my life worth nothing to me
if only I may finish the race and complete the task the Lord Jesus has given me -
the task of testifying to the gospel of God's grace."
Acts 20:24
God called Paul to carry the gospel of His grace to the gentiles. At the Living Proof seminar in Little Rock this weekend, Beth Moore encouraged us to "adopt a succinct life goal" and to "acquire the appropriate tools" to excel at reaching that goal. Jesus used parable after parable to tell His disciples what goals to accomplish while waiting for His return (Matthew 24:36-25:46). In The Parable of the Talents (Matthew 25:14-30), two servants set and achieved worthy goals while the third servant aimed for the dirt and hit it.
"Again, it (the kingdom of heaven) will be like a man going on a journey, who called his servants and entrusted his property to them. To one he gave five talents of money, to another two talents of money, and to another one talent, each according to his ability. Then he went on his journey. The man who had received the five talents went at once and put his money to work and gained five more. So also, the one with the two talents gained two more. But the man who had received the one talent went off, dug a hole in the ground and hid his master's money. . . After a long time the master of those servants returned and settled accounts with them. . . " (Matt. 25:14-19).
The master saw the results of the first two servants' diligent investments and work to please him and told them individually, "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!" (Matt. 25:21,23) And there was much rejoicing!!
Then the master had to deal with the third servant who had aimed for the dirt and hit it. This hole-digging, lazy, whining, blaming, fearful servant had done nothing during the "long time" his master was away except think of excuses for doing nothing.
"I knew you were a hard man, harvesting where you have not sown and gathering where you have not scattered seed. So I was afraid. . ." (Matt. 25:24-25)
This servant condemned himself with words meant to excuse. He knew what he was to do with what the master had given him ("harvesting where you have not sown and gathering where you have not scattered seed") and he had two others who served as examples for him; he simply opted not to obey.Wasting our natural talents and abilities is bad enough, but wasting the spiritual gifts God has given us to spread the good news of the Kingdom of God comes at a high personal price.
"His master replied, 'You wicked, lazy servant! . . . Take the talent from him . . . And throw that worthless servant outside, into the darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.'" (Matt. 25:26-29)
While I may not have formulated an exact or succinct life ministry goal, part of my goal is never to hear God call me lazy or worthless or to be shut outside in the dark to discover firsthand what "gnashing of teeth" means.
Lord, reveal each of our ministry goals to us as clearly as You revealed Paul's to him. Bring our spiritual gifts to light and help us willingly accept and invest them for Your kingdom's sake. Have mercy on us for laziness, fearfulness, excuse-making, blaming, discontent with our gifts, whining and general neglect where Your kingdom work is concerned. Fill us with joy in serving You as You help us grow and bloom in the gifts You've given us. We crave hearing Your Voice say "Well done, good and faithful servant!" Strengthen and energize us to make Your generous Heart happy with our faithfulness.
In the Name of Jesus Who we pray will return to find us faithful!
"For no matter how many promises God has made, they are "Yes" in Christ. And so through Him the "Amen" is spoken by us to the glory of God. Now it is God who makes both us and you stand firm in Christ. He anointed us, set His seal of ownership on us, and put His Spirit in our hearts as a deposit, guaranteeing what is to come." 2 Corinthians 1:20
Inspired by My Utmost for His Highest and Beth Moore
photo from photobucket.com
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