I remember thinking to myself sometimes what a shame it was. So much potential, and so much wasted talent. I have no idea what happened to this man after school. For all I know, he could have turned things around by now; maybe he is a rocket scientist or a brain surgeon. But for that brief period of time, it appeared he was squandering the intelligence that God had given him.
I think we all know someone like this. Maybe it is one of your children, your friends, or a co-worker. Someone for whom if they simply applied themselves a little bit, they could achieve whatever they wanted.
The Bible tells us a story about a master and his servants. It is known as the parable of the talents, and I want to recount a piece of Scripture from Matthew 25 for you now. It says this: "... it will be like a man going on a journey, who called his servants and entrusted his wealth to them. To one he gave five bags of gold, to another two bags, and to another one bag, each according to his ability. Then he went on his journey."
The story goes on to say that the master was gone for quite a while, and while away - his servants decided to either invest and multiply his money ... or hide it in the ground. For the servant who chose to hide what little money he had been given, there was no return on investment. No multiplying and no growth.
When the master finally returned, he rewarded those servants who fearlessly expanded his financial wealth. For the one who did nothing with the talent (gold); it was trouble.
The parable describes Jesus coming back at some future date and taking stock of what His church has accomplished. He will sort out who did what, and to whom. The only question that will matter at that time will be, "what have I done with the time and the opportunities that I have been given?"
Let this question resonate for a bit. What are we doing with what God has given us? Are we investing it and expanding His kingdom? Are we evangelizing and multiplying? Or are we watching television and playing games all the time. You will note that the Scripture actually refers to the person who hid the money in the ground as lazy and fearful. And isn't this true sometimes? An economic market paralyzed with fear and global uncertainty will stop spending and investing. They will freeze up, until such time as the world scene stabilizes.
We must take pains not to freeze up and stifle the spirit of God. I have often stated that there is no such thing as spiritual neutral. We are either in hot pursuit of Jesus, or we are backsliding. God's perfect will does not allow for just hanging out and being content with where we are at for too long. The message of the Gospel compels us to act and to live out our faith. To do something.
Get busy investing the talents that the master has gifted to you. Don't be so fearful that you hide it in the ground, off in a field somewhere and let it collect dust. At some point in time - whether now or later - Jesus will in fact come back. All Scripture points inexorably to that fact. There is no maybe when it comes to the question of God's return in glory for the Second Advent. There is only the knowledge that it will happen, and on that day, every knee will bow to the King of Kings.
When He does return, what will He find us doing? Hiding his investment out of fear or embarrassment? Or will He find that we have met with the banker, and the banker talked to the investor, and that we became spiritually wealthy? Put your gifts to work for God. Capitalize on the opportunities around you to increase His purpose. Shift the car out of spiritual neutral and into drive.
It brings me comfort to think back to my college days and wonder about my old friend. I choose to view him now as a successful person out there somewhere. I choose to think of him as allowing God into his life, and investing the talents that were given to him.
May all of us be strong enough and driven enough to multiply God's kingdom here on Earth. What a joy it will be to hear the words 'well done, good and faithful servant.' It has been two-thousand years since Jesus walked with us; the world has had time to invest in God. Now let's show Him a return.
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