Dad's Ramblings -- Parables of Jesus -- Receiving More

PARABLES OF JESUS – Receiving More
Matthew 25:28-29
 
" 'Therefore take the talent from him, and give it to him who has ten talents. 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.' "
 
It doesn't seem fair that some people are so abundantly blessed and others are paupers. Some seem to be rolling in money and others skimp just to get by. The master of the servants knew each of his servants and how much they could be trusted. So to one he gave ten talents, to another five, and to the last – one (see vss. 14-15a). Just suppose that the master had given them each ten talents? Would the one-talent person have used them any more wisely than he did the one? I don't think so. God knows how responsible I will be with the gifts He has given me. If I am faithful in a little, he will give me more. But if I am negligent in little, even that will be taken away. The Spirit "works all these things, distributing to each one as He will" (I Corinthians 12:28). I must be wise and faithful with one talent if I ever expect more.
 
TODAY'S THOUGHT: A servant must prove he is responsible with what he has been given if he expects to get more.
 
Have a faithful day. Love you.
 

Dad's Ramblings -- Parables of Jesus -- Receiving More

Dad's Ramblings -- Parables of Jesus -- Use It or Lose It

PARABLES OF JESUS – Use It Or Lose It
Matthew 25:26-29
 
" 'But his lord answered and said to him, "You wicked and lazy servant .... You ought to have deposited my money with the bankers, and at my coming I would have received back my own with interest. Therefore take the talent from him, and give it to him who has ten talents." ' "
 
It takes some purposeful effort on my part to invest the talent God has given me so His kingdom will be increased. Laziness is not a reasonable excuse. To fritter away God's gifts in my life because it may be difficult or require some work will result in poverty. The Proverb says, "Go to the ant, thou sluggard; consider her ways and be wise" (Proverbs 6:6). As the old saying goes, "Use it or lose it."
 
TODAY'S THOUGHT: The effort expended investing God's talent in God's work will be rewarded.
 
Have an invested day. Love you.
 

Dad's Ramblings -- Parables of Jesus -- Two Views Of God

PARABLES OF JESUS – Two Views Of God
Matthew 25:24-25
 
" '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. And I was afraid and went and hid your talent in the ground. Look, there you have what is yours." ' "
 
This servant had a one-sided view of his master. He only knew his lord as a stern and harsh and demanding taskmaster. So he served his master out of fear, and not out of love. The other servants saw the master as a rewarder, so there was no fear of failure. Here are two views of God that determine how we serve Him. I fear God, but I also know that He is the rewarder of those who diligently seek Him (Hebrews 11:6). I truly think that God is more pleased with those who try and fail than with those who bury the talents God has given, and do nothing. Failure is a part of the life of anyone who tries to do something for God. God is compassionate and His mercies are new every morning (Lamentations 3:22-23). I need that because I fail a lot. That's why I serve God out of love and not out of fear. What a wonderful Master we serve.
 
TODAY'S THOUGHT: Our view of God will determine how we serve Him.
 
Have a successful day. Love you.
 

Dad'ss Ramblings -- Parables of Jesus -- Enter In

PARABLES OF JESUS – Enter In
Matthew 25:20-21
 
" 'After a long time the lord of those servants came and settled accounts with them. So he who had received five talents came and brought five other talents .... 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." ' "
 
I have one goal: When I stand before the Lord to give account of my one talent, I want to hear those words, "Enter into the joy of your Lord." Nothing in this life maters more than to being found faithful.
 
TODAY'S THOUGHT: When the account of my life is settled, the most important things is to be found faithful.
 
Have a faithful day. Love you.
 

Dad's Ramblings -- Parables of Jesus -- On Loan

PARABLES OF JESUS – On Loan
Matthew 25:16-18
 
" 'Then he who had received the five talents went and traded with them, and made another five talents. And he who had received two talents gained two more also. But he who had received one went and dug in the ground, and hid his lord's money.' "
 
The servants recognized that what they had received was only on loan to be invested in their lord's work. Even the servant who hid the one talent knew it was "his lord's money." Whatever I have – whether time, talent, or treasure – belongs to God and is to be invested in His kingdom work. I am only a steward. "Let a man so consider us, as servant of Christ and stewards of the mysteries of God. Moreover, it is required in stewards that one be found faithful" (I Corinthians 4:1-2; see also I Corinthians 9:17).
 
TODAY'S THOUGHT: We do not own God's gifts – we are only stewards.
 
Have a stewardship day. Love you.
 

Dad's Ramblings -- According To Each One's Ability

THE PARABLES OF JESUS – According To Each One's Ability
Matthew 25:14-15
 
" 'For the kingdom of heaven is like a man traveling to a far country, who called his own servants and delivered his goods to them. And to one he gave five talents, to another two, and to another one, to each according to his own ability; and immediately he went on a journey.' "
 
While we are waiting for the return of Jesus, He has given each of us assignments according to our own abilities. The Apostle Paul used the illustration of the body. Each part of the body has its own function which is necessary for the body to function well. The mouth has lots of abilities. It speaks, it eats, it takes in air, it tastes, it spits. But the spleen has only one talent. It is a warehouse for red blood cells, separating the good from the bad and holding the good ones until they are needed in an emergency. Both the mouth and the spleen do their jobs to keep the body functioning. Some, like Billy Graham, are 5-talented people. They can speak, witness, write, counsel, and sometimes sing. And some are like me – a 1-talent person. I can clean the toilet well. God does not require me to be a 5-talent person. I am not responsible to do everything a 5-talent person does. But I am accountable for what I do with my one talent. I want to be faithful with my one talent.
 
TODAY'S THOUGHT: Every Believer is given at least one talent to use for the Kingdom.
 
Have a talented day. Love you.