Warriors Arise: November 13, 2022
Matthew 25:20-30 (NKJV) So he who had received five talents came and brought five other talents, saying, ‘Lord, you delivered to me five talents; look, I have gained five more talents besides them.’ 21 His lord said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant; you were faithful over a few things, I will make you ruler over many things. Enter into the joy of your lord.’ 22 He also who had received two talents came and said, ‘Lord, you delivered to me two talents; look, I have gained two more talents besides them.’ 23 His lord said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant; you have been faithful over a few things, I will make you ruler over many things. Enter into the joy of your lord.’ 24 Then he who had received the one talent came and said, ‘Lord, I knew you to be a hard man, reaping where you have not sown, and gathering where you have not scattered seed. 25 And I was afraid, and went and hid your talent in the ground. Look, there you have what is yours.’ 26 But his lord answered and said to him, ‘You wicked and lazy servant, you knew that I reap where I have not sown, and gather where I have not scattered seed. 27 So you ought to have deposited my money with the bankers, and at my coming I would have received back my own with interest. 28 So take the talent from him, and give it to him who has ten talents. 29 ‘For to everyone who has, more will be given, and he will have abundance; but from him who does not have, even what he has will be taken away. 30 And cast the unprofitable servant into the outer darkness. There will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.’
Once we learn to follow, then we can be given the responsibility to serve. Jesus used this passage to teach us the ways of His Father's kingdom. Each one of us has been given talents. Here in the above passage, it refers to money as the example of responsibility given to each servant. However, most scholars would say Jesus isn't referring to money. He is referring to the purpose, destiny, personality, and gifts of the Spirit given to each one of us. We are responsible to do something to use and grow what God has put inside of us. Those who walk out their purpose and keep their focus on the destiny God placed within them will lay hold of the gifts of the Spirit, recognize God has given them their personality and life experiences to accomplish what He has for them to do to advance His kingdom. God does not want us to waste our lives. He wants us to learn and to use the gifts of the Spirit that have been given to us.
Reading the above passage compels us to find out what God has given us and invest it, grow it, use it to expand His kingdom. We all want to hear Him say, "Well done, good and faithful servant." Many will quote, "Well done, good and faithful servant", wistfully. Some quote it feeling justified and deserving. However, it if is quoted without the remaining words of the Master, I wonder if we understand those words are not spoken flippantly. Those words were earned. The servants did something with what they had been given.
Let's take a closer look: ‘Well done, good and faithful servant; you were faithful over a few things, I will make you ruler over many things. Enter into the joy of your lord." We are to be faithful over what God has given us. When we are we do not get a vacation, we get promoted. God gives us more. He makes us rulers over many things. This is probably a mind shift. It is difficult to move into the next three relationships God invites us to join Him in when we want to be done serving Him.
If you and I have the attitude or mindset of doing what God has given into our hands to do so that we can check it off, get the badge and let someone else come in and take over what God has given into our hands, we could be mistaken. When we receive, "Well done, good and faithful servant" there is more to come. God will give us more. We are not done, we are just getting started with what God has for us. You can think of this first opportunity as a test. If you and I pass then we get more responsibility, more opportunities, and more people to minister along side.
You and I are not just mass; we are human beings created by the Father and have been given gifts, talents, personality and experiences to fulfill our purpose. Mass is something that takes up space. We are not to only take up space here on earth. We are to occupy this land, manage it, multiply, share the Gospel and disciple the people. We are so much more than mass. The little test given by the Master is to set us up for what God has for us next. If He shared with us the fullness of what He dreams our future would be, we would be overwhelmed and struggle to align ourselves with God's vision for our lives. Therefore, He gives us responsibility in bite size pieces. Each piece we are to receive and do something with it that brings honor and glory to the Father. When we do, we will get more. This is the joy of the Lord. Does that challenge your thinking? Many people think the above passage is about entering into heaven. It may be, but I think it has an additional meaning. God doesn't need us to rule more cities in heaven. God needs us to rule over and have influence in cities here on earth. This verse means something that should challenge us to take a look at where we are in what God has given into our hands to do. How are we doing at accomplishing that task? Are you ready for more? When we have done well with the little, then we are given more. This is what we should want. This is what brings the Father joy. We want to continue alongside Him, advancing His kingdom here on earth. ‘Well done, good and faithful servant; you have been faithful over a few things, I will make you ruler over many things. Enter into the joy of your lord.’
Enter into the joy of your lord, is having the Master delight over what we have done and then stepping into all He desires to put into our hands. It is a great feeling, to know I can hand something off to someone else in my absence and know they are gong to do the task to their best ability. When I return I am going to know they did what they were asked. When they do, then I know I can give them more responsibility when the opportunity comes up. God is delighted when He can trust us to do what He has given into our hands to do. He is overjoyed when He has servants do what they have been assigned. Those servants who do what they have been assigned and take it further, He gives more. People can stop doing the God-stuff, because they don't want to be given more to do. What they fail to comprehend is when we stop dong the God-stuff we not longer dwell in the joy of the Lord. Scripture clearly says we enter into the joy of your Lord after we have done what we were asked to do and then are given more to do. That is when we will hear, "Well done, good and faithful servant." But not, if we don't do what we have been given to do. And not if we have turned away after finishing our task thinking it was a one and done deal. Too many people need to know God and He needs us to intentionally be about His business.
Father, this is stretching me. I thank You for the relationship, as Your servant. I enjoy You being my Master. You provide and take care of my needs. You give me responsibility and give me time to accomplish the task. I will honor You and listen for Your instructions. I will bring glory to You, because I will no longer think, "This is it. This is the last thing. Then I will hear Him say, 'Well done, good and faithful servant.'" I will look to You and listen for the opportunity You have for me. I will serve You faithfully. I will be prepared to receive more and I will enter into the joy of my Lord in Jesus' name amen.
A Warrior in the Lord’s Army,
Veridee Joy Hand
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