As is often the case while preparing for a message I am
tempted to be drawn away from the target passage to another that relates in
some way. This is often where I find inspiration for a post, although finding
the time to write is a whole other situation. But I digress…
While I was preparing to preach on James 3:1-5b I was drawn
toward the Parable of the Talents in Matthew chapter 25. This really grabbed my
attention as James is talking about the teacher’s temptation to sin with their
mouth and Jesus, in the parable, is talking about being faithful to use what
our Master has given us to bring an increase back to Him.
But, as James is talking about pastors and teachers Jesus’
parable is more general, describing rather what the Kingdom of Heaven is like.
In this case, “it” is like “a man going on a journey, who called his servants
and entrusted to them his property.” (Matt. 25:14, ESV) The parable goes on to
describe three servants all given something of the master’s own abundance to
manage and increase. The firsts is given the most, the second not as much as
the first but more than the third, and finally the third is given the least.
After the master returns he calls his servants to give an account of what they
have done with the portions entrusted them. The first two are successful in
doubling their portions, but the third buried his and although protecting it
from being lost did not increase what he had been entrusted with. 
There are a couple things that I was struck by when reading
this parable. First, in his letter to the early church James very much
emphasizes that the things that we do as Christians are the result of and fully
connected to the reality of our faith. If our faith is not true, then we will
not work in obedience to God and be fruitful. This is the parable of the
talents. Those who truly believe, who truly have faith in the sovereign Master,
are fruitful and bring an increase, but this too needs explanation or we may
find ourselves naming and claiming or declaring financial increase as a
birthright.  |
| Am I Ready? |
The parable of the talents is an explanation of what the
kingdom of God is like. In Matthew 25 the preceding parable warned the
listeners to be ready, it seems reasonable that this parable illustrates how to
be ready or what “ready” looks like. This brings me to the second thing I see
in this parable, and this is where I am convicted. Is the church in America
ready? Am I ready? Well, what is ready?
The talents in the parable may not be so much the things we
are able to do by way of our gifting and abilities. What if the talents are
faith and salvation, the real gift that will continue on even after spiritual
gifts pass away? (1 Cor. 13:8-10) What if what we have been given demands
growth as a result of truly being present within us? In America we tell those
who are gifted in business that they are to increase monetarily and give to the
ministry as their part in the ministry, but is that in Scripture as a ministry
function? Of course the ministry needs and operates off the generosity of those
who support it, but is that all they should do? Throw some money across the
pond to Africa and you’re all good; you've fulfilled your duty to the mission. I
say no.
 |
| Upon This Rock |
Many churches these days are like the third servant. Burying
what they have and just trying to survive in the face of aggressive atheism and
all the intolerance of Christianity’s absolutes in the name of tolerance. This
is not acceptable. The church has a promise…
“On this rock I will build my church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail
against it.” (Matt. 16:18, ESV) This confession (That Jesus is the Savior and
King) requires our faith, and our faith requires our action. The only
reasonable action in response to faith in a loving Father who sent His Son to
die in our place is to proclaim that truth regardless the reaction of the world
around us, because whether they want to hear it or not, they need to. They absolutely
need to hear it, and it is our responsibility to tell them of this gift. 
If we bury our talent, we cease to be fruitful and thereby
cease to be an accurate representation of the Kingdom. In effect, we cease to
be the church. No matter what happens in the society we are in and not of we
are called to proclaim the Truth and live according to His ways. When the
family structure degrades and morality declines in society this especially is
the time the church needs to speak truth in love. When the church moves forward
working toward the increase we can be assured that we will see it. We can have
this assurance because nothing can stop the Kingdom from progressing forward.
So, if “being ready” means working toward an increase, are
you ready? He may return at any moment, as no man knows the time or the hour.
Will you be found able to present an increase to your master, or will you be
found as lazy, missing the point of the gift, and in self-preservation mode?
What say you, are you ready?
