Your assignment
‘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. Matthew 25:29
Have you ever been given an assignment, whether at school, work or even in your home? Of course, you have. We all have at one time or another. A task that needed to be completed for a project or a report requiring time and research. Most of us can recall many assignments of studying for tests. So, how did it go for you? Personally, I’ve completed some assignments very well, while others, not so much. I suspect that’s true for most people. It would be challenging to find anyone who has completed every assignment in life on time and being perfectly done.
Today’s reading is about another parable, that is an earthly story with a heavenly meaning that Jesus shared with His followers. He told them about a man who was preparing to travel and gave each of his servants (or employees) an assignment involving talents. One servant was entrusted with five talents, another with two talents, and the third with just one talent.
When the master returned, he found that the first and second servants had gone beyond their assignments and doubled the talents given to them. The master responded with, “Well done, good and faithful servant.” He was pleased with their efforts. However, the third servant had simply hidden his talent, ensuring no one could take it or use it. The master called him a “wicked and lazy servant” and took the one talent from him, giving it to the servant who now had ten talents.
This parable illustrates a key principle of the kingdom of heaven: Be faithful with little, and you will be given more.
Sadly, some people, even Christians shy away from increasing their responsibilities and commitments, especially when it involves serving others. Many are content to stay within their own small world, focusing solely on “me and mine,” avoiding greater assignments and their higher callings. Hopefully, no one reading this falls into that category. But if you do, this passage contains a serious warning. The master banishes the servant who was afraid and selfish, calling him “unprofitable” and “useless.” He is cast into utter darkness, a place of torment and anguish.
Today, I encourage you to increase in your assignments and multiply your gifts and talents. Use them to serve others, wherever and however you can. Take that step of faith without worrying about extra compensation. Do it out of a desire to go the extra mile and bless someone else. The Lord, who sees what you do in secret, will reward you openly. He will increase your opportunities, enabling you to continue as a good and faithful servant of the Most High God.
If you have buried your gifts in the past, it’s not too late to turn things around. Dig it back up and surrender your talents to your Heavenly Father today and ask Him to help you use them in ways that honor and bless Him while serving others. He will guide you to your next assignment, and you will begin to see an increase in all that He has blessed you with.
Today’s scripture reading: Matthew 25:14-30
14 “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.
15 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.
16 Then he who had received the five talents went and traded with them, and made another five talents.
17 And likewise he who had received two gained two more also.
18 But he who had received one went and dug in the ground, and hid his lord’s money.
19 After a long time the lord of those servants came and settled accounts with them.
20 “So he who had received five talents came and brought five other talents, saying, ‘Lord, you delivered to me five talents; look, I have gained five more talents besides them.’
21 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.’
22 He also who had received two talents came and said, ‘Lord, you delivered to me two talents; look, I have gained two more talents besides them.’
23 His lord said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant; you have been faithful over a few things, I will make you ruler over many things. Enter into the joy of your lord.’
24 “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.
25 And I was afraid, and went and hid your talent in the ground. Look, there you have what is yours.’
26 “But his lord answered and said to him, ‘You wicked and lazy servant, you knew that I reap where I have not sown, and gather where I have not scattered seed.
27 So you ought to have deposited my money with the bankers, and at my coming I would have received back my own with interest.
28 Therefore take the talent from him, and give it to him who has ten talents.
29 ‘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.
30 And cast the unprofitable servant into the outer darkness. There will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.’
The Daily Dose 