A man, going on a journey, summoned his slaves and entrusted his property to them; to one he gave five talents, to another two, to another one, to each according to his ability. Then he went away. (Matthew 25:14-15)
Once there was a wealthy landowner, or “master” as he is called, who was about to go away on a long trip. Since he was going away for such a long time he decided to put his loyal staff in charge of everything he owned. Before he left he presented one of the servants with the unbelievable sum of five talents. To another servant he gave two talents and to the third servant he gave one talent. The servants weren’t given any instructions on what to do with the talents or when exactly the landowner would return.
A talent was a tremendous sum of money. It represented the earnings of twenty or more years. The servant who was given five talents held in his possession lifetime earnings of five people. The servant who was given two talents had the earnings of two people. Even the servant who was given only one talent had an enormous sum of money.
Immediately after the master left on his trip the first two servants went to work. The one with the five talents and the one with two talents soon had doubled the money of their master. The third servant who was given one talent, however, “went off at once and dug a hole in the ground and hid his master’s money.” At an unexpected time the master returned and called in his three servants to give an account of how each used the talents entrusted to him.
What kind of account will we give to our master on how we have used our talents?
Heavenly Father, forgive me for not using my talents wisely. Help me to give freely of what you have given to me. In Jesus Name,Amen.
Make vows to the LORD your God, and perform them; let all who are around him bring gifts to the One who is awesome. (Psalms 76:11)
If you were asked to buy the tackiest gift imaginable, what would you buy? Martin Marty was once invited to a postnuptial party. He was asked to bring “a gift in the worst possible taste.” The purpose was to embarrass the newly married couple. They would open their gifts standing in front of their family and friends and “ooh and aah” as they opened each tacky item.
Marty found a Dollar store and began his search for the tackiest gift. To his delight he discovered a yellow plastic dove with a silver beak hollowed to hold a small plant and chained so it could be suspended. This was the perfect gift for the occasion, he thought. No one would have a more ratty gift than his. Then, an amazing thing happened. Expecting to be embarrassed at the checkout counter, he was instead surrounded by shoppers. They wanted to know where he had found such a beautiful object. Several of those doves got sold that day.
We have lots of options on how we use our gifts, and talents, but none of our gifts are ugly. Just like the shoppers who admired the plastic bird, our gifts are beautiful in God’s eyes when our talents are used for good.
God of all gifts, bless me as I use my talents for sharing of your love. In Jesus name, Amen.
And while they went to buy it, the bridegroom came, and those who were ready went with him into the wedding banquet; and the door was shut. (Matthew 25:10)
The foolish bridesmaids in our scripture reading today were not ready. They went to get more oil for their lamps. Meanwhile, the wedding had already started. Matthew 25:11 says, “Later the other bridesmaids came also saying, ‘Lord, lord, open to us.’ But he replied, ‘Truly I tell you, I do not know you.” The bridesmaids were not allowed to enter the wedding celebration.
We also will not be allowed to enter God’s kingdom unless we are prepared. We have all heard the phrase–there are two things in life that are certain–death and taxes. In our American culture, it seems to be a taboo to talk about death. We often talk about people passing away. People don’t pass away. People die. Death is often is a gift. For some, death is a relief from a hard life. For others, death is freedom from physical pain. And for still others, death is a rebirth into a new life that is eternal.
Life is such a fragile thing at best. We should be ready to meet God in this life and the life to come. Matthew 25:13 says, “Keep awake therefore, for you know neither the day nor the hour.”
God of all things, may I not live in fear of death, but may I be ready for my time to come to you. In Jesus name, Amen.
Look! Here is the bridegroom! (Matthew 25:6)
Matthew 25:5-9, “As the bridegroom was delayed, all of them became drowsy and slept. But at midnight there was a shout, ‘Look! Here is the bridegroom! Come out to meet him.’ Then all those bridesmaids got up and trimmed their lamps. The foolish said to the wise, ‘Give us some of your oil, for our lamps are going out.’ ‘No! there will not be enough for you and for us; you had better go to the dealers and buy some for yourselves.” The foolish bridesmaids were not ready for the delay of the bridegroom. They were not prepared for the unexpected.
How about us? Are we prepared or ready to deal with the unexpected turns and twists of life? I am convined that if, as young people, we had written a book aount our life we could never have forseen the paths -both good and bad – we have ultimately taken. Life certainly has not gone as I would have predicted. Many of us can tell similar stories and many of us can share some very painful unexpected experiences.
Jesus Christ will help us deal with the unexpected if we allow him to walk with us everyday of our lives.
God of all people, please let me never walk away from your Son, so that I can have him at my side when dealing with the unexpected. In Jesus name, Amen.
Why are you frightened, and why do doubts arise in your hearts? (Luke 24:38)
In a Peanuts cartoon, Charlie Brown and Linus are walking over the baseball field to make sure everything is ready for the new baseball season. Charlie Brown goes over to the pitcher’s mound and says, “My pitcher’s mound looks great.” Then Linus and Charlie Brown go to the back stop, “Our ol’ backstop seems to be in good shape.” Charlie Brown asks, “How about the outfield?” Linus replies, “All mowed, Charlie Brown, it’s beautiful! And we’ve raked the infield so it looks better than ever.” Charlie Brown says, “Then all we have to worry about is the sound system.” Linus says, “The sound system?” Just about that time Lucy belts out, “This year let’s try to get the ball over the plate, you blockhead!” Charlie Brown concludes, “The sound system is still working.”
I’m not sure that Charlie Brown and Linus really believed the sound system was working, and the disciples also had a hard time believing that Jesus was alive. Luke says, “While they were talking about this, Jesus himself stood among them and said to them ‘Peace be with you.’ They were startled and terrified, and they thought that they were seeing a ghost.”
The disciples were having a hard time believing. The disciples were trying to sort out the meaning of Jesus’ death and the reports about Jesus’ appearances. Was it a hoax? They were not completely immune to superstition. Perhaps it was some kind of ghost. Suddenly it happened. Jesus himself stood among them. The disciples were startled and frightened. Then Jesus said to them, “Why are you troubled and why do doubts rise in your hearts? See my hands and my feet, that it is I myself…”
The response of the disciples is a sermon in itself. Luke tells us that they “disbelieved for joy…” It was simply too wonderful to be true. He was alive and he was with them–right there. It was too good to be true.
Some of us may have a hard time believing. Will we allow Jesus to take the doubts away?
Heavenly Father, please take away my doubts. In Jesus Name, Amen.
Those who had eaten were four thousand men, besides women and children. (Matthew 15:38)
In our scripture reading today, Jesus was at the height of his popularity. People were following him everywhere he went. It was difficult for him to get away even to spend some quality time alone in prayer or with his disciples. He healed the sick, fed the hungry, and people flocked to him. This attention excited the disciples. Jesus’ ministry was booming. Everything was running smoothly. At least that is what the disciples thought.
The disciples had been with Jesus for a long time. Now, Jesus felt it was time to tell them what would happen next. He gathered the disciples around him. He said to them, “[I] must go to Jerusalem and undergo great suffering, be killed, and the third day be raised.” Wow! The disciples were not expecting anything like that. They just looked at each other, too shocked to say anything. The disciples thought Jesus would come to power, and they would hold positions of importance in his kingdom. They never thought he would suffer and die.
Leave it to Simon Peter to speak what the other disciples were thinking. Peter took Jesus aside and said, “God forbid it, Lord! This must never happen to you.” Peter spoke harshly to Jesus.
Has anyone ever said something to you that reminded you of someone else, or of another experience? When Peter rebuked Jesus, Jesus heard the voice of the tempter. trying to temp Jesus as he had done in the desert at the start of Jesus’ ministry. Jesus turned to Peter and said, “Get behind me, Satan! You are a stumbling block for me.” Ironic that Peter the Rock was also a stumbling stone for Jesus.
Do we help or hinder God’s work?
Heavenly Father, through your inspiration, may I do more to help than hinder your work. In Jesus Name, Amen.
The nations shall see your vindication, and all the kings your glory; and you shall be called by a new name that the mouth of the LORD will give. You shall be a crown of beauty in the hand of the LORD, and a royal diadem in the hand of your God. (Isaiah 62:2-3)
There are two themes that dominate the writings of all the great prophets. They are Judgement and Hope. As far as the prophets were concerned, Israel’s greatness as a nation did not depend on its prosperity or its military might. They knew that a nation’s character was more important than its cash reserves. They did not buy the prosperity Gospel. Israel’s wealthy elite might “have it all,” but they dare not call it the blessing of God if their hearts an d their lives were corrupt. Thus the prophets pronounced judgement on Israel’s sinfulness. Without righteousness and justice there will be a day of reckoning, they thundered. Things will not continue like this forever.
Their pronouncements of judgement, however, must be balanced by their messages of hope. They were not all gloom and doom. When Israel was hurting, when its people were still trying to sing the Lord’s song in a strange land, when there was famine and pestilence and war throughout the country, the prophets again spoke up. Things will not be like this forever, they said. Hang in there. God will not forsake His own.
Judgement and hope, God is always with us. It is our job to welcome God into our lives, no matter what situation we face!
Loving God, help me to call on you and walk with you in all of the ups and downs of life. In Jesus name, Amen.
In the same way, my friends, you have died to the law through the body of Christ, so that you may belong to another, to him who has been raised from the dead in order that we may bear fruit for God. (Romans 7:4)
Do you remember the name Leon Spinks? In the cruel world of professional boxing, Spinks was once the world heavyweight champion. Spinks was quoted as saying: “People were always asking, after I won the title, ‘Who is Leon Spinks?’” Then he added, “It’s a question I’ve been asking all my life. I didn’t know who I was but I knew I wanted to be somebody…I was tired of being nobody.”
Do you suppose anybody ever told Leon Spinks that even before he was formed in his mother’s womb, the eternal God knew who he was? That is the good news for the day. We matter. We are worth something. Let no one say that we are nobodies. This beautiful world was created for us. The infinite stars would not shine down from the skies if we were not here to behold them. Of even more staggering import is a cross that stands on a hill named Calvary. For it was there that the Son of the living God gave His life in our behalf.
In Sweden there is a saying that “in every man there is a king, and in every woman, a queen. If you speak to them as ‘Your Majesty,’ their majesty will come forth.” May we all live like we are children of the King!
Dear God, sometimes I don’t do a very good job of loving myself. Remind me each day that I am your child! May I also treat everyone I meet as your child. In Jesus name, Amen.
What good is it, my brothers and sisters, if you say you have faith but do not have works? (James 2:14)
If we use our talents to honor God, God will grant us even greater opportunities. Even persons with limited abilities can succeed if they will give it their all. Just because you have never been comfortable in front of people doesn’t mean that you have not been given the gift of teaching. It is amazing how many of the world’s great orators have had to conquer such impediments as a lisp, an unimpressive appearance or some other hindrance. Their very determination to overcome their handicap helped make them great. Where does commitment end and God’s blessing begin? Is a spiritual gift necessarily a talent? Availability and dependability truly are as important as ability itself.
Look at the people God chose to serve him in Biblical times. The towering figure of the first part of our Bible was an eighty-year-old man who spoke with a stammer. His name? Moses. None of the men who surrounded Jesus gave any indication of their later greatness. So it is in the world today. God uses people who are willing to offer themselves and all they have to Him. More important than our individual talents or abilities or intellect is the spirit with which they are given to God.
In what spirit are we using our gifts to honor Christ by sharing his love?
God of all gifts, may I have a good attitude when I use my gifts for your service. In Jesus name, Amen.
But you have upheld me because of my integrity, and set me in your presence forever. (Psalm 41:12)
Rabbi Harold Kushner writes, “I have seen weak people become strong, timid people become brave, selfish people become generous. I have seen people care for their elderly parents, for brain damaged children, for spouses in wheelchairs, for years, even decades, and I have asked myself, where do people get the strength to keep doing that for so long? Where do they get the resources of love and loyalty to keep going? The only answer I come up with is when we are weary and out of strength, we turn to God and God renews our strength, so we can run and not grow weary, so that we can walk and not feel faint.”
In times of suffering, in times when our world seems to be crumbling, in times of our greatest need, we will receive strength from God. All we have to do is ask for it. God’s strength is available for us. Not just at some time in the future, because we are not alone in this world. God is with us!
Loving God, there are times when I get really down and wonder where you are when I need you the most. Remind me in those moments that you are right by my side. In Jesus name, Amen.
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