With What Gifts Has God Entrusted You?

Prayer – Lord, open my eyes and my heart to the needs of those around me and the gifts or talents You have given me to meet those needs. 

Again, the Kingdom of Heaven can be illustrated by the story of a man going on a long trip. He called together his servants and entrusted his money to them while he was gone. He gave five bags of silver to one, two bags of silver to another, and one bag of silver to the last—dividing it in proportion to their abilities. He then left on his trip. The servant who received the five bags of silver began to invest the money and earned five more. The servant with two bags of silver also went to work and earned two more. But the servant who received the one bag of silver dug a hole in the ground and hid the master's money. After a long time their master returned from his trip and called them to give an account of how they had used his money. The servant to whom he had entrusted the five bags of silver came forward with five more and said, 'Master, you gave me five bags of silver to invest, and I have earned five more.' The master was full of praise. 'Well done, my good and faithful servant. You have been faithful in handling this small amount, so now I will give you many more responsibilities. Let's celebrate together!' The servant who had received the two bags of silver came forward and said, 'Master, you gave me two bags of silver to invest, and I have earned two more.' The master said, 'Well done, my good and faithful servant. You have been faithful in handling this small amount, so now I will give you many more responsibilities. Let's celebrate together!' Then the servant with the one bag of silver came and said, 'Master, I knew you were a harsh man, harvesting crops you didn't plant and gathering crops you didn't cultivate. I was afraid I would lose your money, so I hid it in the earth. Look, here is your money back.' But the master replied, 'You wicked and lazy servant! If you knew I harvested crops I didn't plant and gathered crops I didn't cultivate, why didn't you deposit my money in the bank? At least I could have gotten some interest on it.' Then he ordered, 'Take the money from this servant, and give it to the one with the ten bags of silver. To those who use well what they are given, even more will be given, and they will have an abundance. But from those who do nothing, even what little they have will be taken away. Now throw this useless servant into outer darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.' Matthew 25:14-30

 

Meditate. Consider what you would do with a bag of silver.

 

Has anyone ever given you something to watch over while they went away on vacation or for work? I’ve watched dogs, plants, gardens, homes and even kids—a teenager! The teenager was the biggest challenge…and the most valuable of the possessions. Unfortunately, he made some bad decisions with his friends and one of them ended up dropping a manhole cover on his foot—not our guy! And it seems to me that there was an incident with a skunk involved in that evening, too! It was a little awkward all around and we didn't ever offer to “teen sit” again!

 

Coins during Jesus' time.
Display at the
Creation Museum, Kentucky

In this parable that Jesus told when they asked about the Kingdom and end time, The Master entrusted his servants with some of his riches—silver coins. These are like the gifts of the Spirit that God gives to each of us. What did the servants do with those coins? It varied from investing wisely to hiding them in the ground. What are you doing with the gifts or talents that God has given you? Do you even realize what they are? I think that mine is writing this blog…day in and day out for more than twelve years. Others have talents of encouragement, evangelism, music—playing the piano, violin, guitar, or singing—hospitality, cooking, baking, cleaning, gardening, teaching, shepherding, and even pickle ball. The church I attend has a pickle ball ministry—awesome! Sometimes people’s “gift” is just taking care of their family. Children, teens, grandparents, aunts and uncles, siblings, cousins, spouses—they all have needs that should be met and those are best done by “family” and not strangers, whenever possible. When the circumstances of elders or those with special needs are beyond what the family can do for them, it is good that there are outside resources. Are you using the talents God has given you…or are you burying your head in the sand and ignoring God and the necessities He has placed before you to use those very gifts? Are you the faithful servant?

 Decisions day by day. What to do…how to show God’s love and care?

 

Verse of Salvation ~ Even though the fig trees have no blossoms, and there are no grapes on the vines; even though the olive crop fails, and the fields lie empty and barren; even though the flocks die in the fields, and the cattle barns are empty, yet I will rejoice in the LORD! I will be joyful in the God of my salvation! Habakkuk 3:17-18

 

© 2024 Text, photos, and illustrations by Mickey M. Hunacek. All rights reserved. 

All scripture quoted from the New Living Translation (NLT) unless otherwise noted. 

New Living Translation copyright © 1996, 2004, 2007 by Tyndale House Foundation. 

Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved. Don’t Worry – Life is More Than Food

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