The Encourager
“Risking Everything for the Lord - by Jeff Curtis”
Risking Everything for the Lord
Jeff Curtis
A lot of what Jesus taught was startling, even shocking, to those who first heard what He had to teach. Such was the case with the parable of the talents.
Jesus spoke this parable to teach His disciples that they were to stay busy while they waited for His return. It was recorded through the guidance of the Holy Spirit because, along with the apostles, all followers of the Lord need to be reminded of this. Matthew wrote his Gospel account 30 years or so after the church was established. Exciting things were still happening. Paul was probably making his final journeys after his release from prison, ad other Christians were spreading the gospel. But enough time had to produce a second generation of Christians. Probably some congregations had lost their initial zeal and had settled into a comfortable week to week existence (notice Rev. 3:15). This parable of the talents was intended as a wake-up call for the first century Christians. Such a message is still needed for Christians today.
How do we feel about taking risks? Most of us probably prefer to eliminate risks from our everyday lives. We like, as much as possible, to have a risk-free existence. That being the case, the idea of taking risks for the Lord may not be appealing to some. Nevertheless, this parable teaches that we should do just that to please our Master.
The parable begins with the master giving his servants responsibilities that involved a major risk. Jesus said that the kingdom of heaven is “like a man about to go on a journey, who called his own servants…” (Matt.25:14). The word used is a plural form of the Greek word for slave. These were “his own slaves”: He owned them; they belonged to him.
To receive maximum impact from this parable, we need to see ourselves as God’s slaves, as those who belong to Him. Paul wrote, “Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and that you are not your own” For you have been bought with a price: therefore, glorify God in your body” (1Cor. 6:19-10). We were purchased with His blood (Acts 20:28), redeemed (“bought back”) by that blood (1Peter 1:18-19). “When one comes forth from the liquid grave of baptism, he enters into a fellowship over the threshold of which is clearly inscribed, ‘You are not your own. You have been bought with a price.’” (The Characteristics of a Good Steward,” The Preacher’s Periodical (July 1983).
The master gave to “each according to his own ability” (Matt.25:15). No one was given more than they could handle, and no one was given less than he was capable of managing. Everyone received something.
As recipients of God’s gifts, we should understand that those gifts include a challenge. God says to us, in effect, “As those who belong to Me, you are to use these in My service. I am entrusting them to you for a short while. In the meantime, you are to use them to benefit MY cause.” When the Master bestows a gift, a responsibility is attached.
Using what God gives – abilities, time, possessions, and opportunities – involves taking risks. The risk of making a mistake, the risk of being criticized, even the risk of failure.
