Photograph by Eradio Valverde
Jesus Wants Us Prepared, but Working
From Matthew 25:14-30: "For it will be as when a man going on a journey called his servants and entrusted to them his property; to one he gave five talents, to another two, to another one, to each according to his ability. Then he went away. He who had received the five talents went at once and traded with them; and he made five talents more. So also, he who had the two talents made two talents more. But he who had received the one talent went and dug in the ground and hid his master's money. Now after a long time the master of those servants came and settled accounts with them. And he who had received the five talents came forward, bringing five talents more, saying, 'Master, you delivered to me five talents; here I have made five talents more.' His master said to him, 'Well done, good and faithful servant; you have been faithful over a little, I will set you over much; enter into the joy of your master.' And he also who had the two talents came forward, saying, 'Master, you delivered to me two talents; here I have made two talents more.' His master said to him, 'Well done, good and faithful servant; you have been faithful over a little, I will set you over much; enter into the joy of your master.' He also who had received the one talent came forward, saying, 'Master, I knew you to be a hard man, reaping where you did not sow, and gathering where you did not winnow; so I was afraid, and I went and hid your talent in the ground. Here you have what is yours.' But his master answered him, 'You wicked and slothful servant! You knew that I reap where I have not sowed, and gather where I have not winnowed? Then you ought to have invested my money with the bankers, and at my coming I should have received what was my own with interest. So take the talent from him, and give it to him who has the ten talents. For to every one who has will more be given, and he will have abundance; but from him who has not, even what he has will be taken away. And cast the worthless servant into the outer darkness; there men will weep and gnash their teeth.'
The young lady above in the photograph is named Melanie. She's from First United Methodist Church of Port Lavaca, Texas. She participated in the Witness part of our charge conference. She was the last of a good group of children and youth who have shared their hope for the Church. We have had with us at each charge conference, an exciting worship painter named Jason Rodriguez, who yesterday, painted this awesome painting that he named, My Hope for the Church Is... He said he was inspired by the words shared by these children and youth about the church.
In the same way, we can say that this parable is Jesus' Hope for the Church. It is a parable of preparation and utilization. In other words, what has God shared with you; and what are you doing with it? The use of the word talent in this parable lends itself to be limited to just ability; but it goes beyond that. Jesus is talking about something valuable entrusted to the care of these three servants/slaves. The Master obviously has everything, and these slaves have nothing, even limited freedom. Each is entrusted with different amounts of this prize possession and the master leaves on a journey. The first received five talents or five shares of this entrusted property. He is a wise and savvy person and goes and makes five more. He risked what had been entrusted to him and reaped a reward double in size to the initial gift. The second, does the same. Risks and wins. The last, who was entrusted with only one share, does nothing. Risks nothing, and buries his entrusted possession in the ground, and gains nothing. His concern was more about not losing so he risked nothing.
What has God entrusted to your care and what risks have you taken with it? If we were to with an ability that we call a talent, what talents has God entrusted to your care and what risks have you taken? For those who preach, great risk occurs every time we step behind a pulpit or podium. To open our mouths to share that first word scares the honest ones more than we care to share. For Jason to have one day felt that his talent was good enough to paint a picture was to risk trying it out and risk being criticized for that first painting. You see above what great talent this risk has brought to God's Kingdom.
In the same way, Jesus' hope for the church rests in you and what He has shared with you. What are you doing with it? If you're scared of taking that first step or speaking that first word, or lifting that first paint brush, or entering into a Sunday school room as teacher; what have you got to gain?
PRAYER: Loving God, thank You for putting Your trust and hope for the Church in me. It is a daunting task, but one, with your help and blessing that I can take. Help me to grow your church with risks that I need to take. But I take comfort in knowing that You are with me. In Your name I pray, amen.
Have a great and blessed day in the Lord!
Eradio Valverde
