“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.’"
Dear God,
I am yours. I choose to live with abandonment to You. I choose the cross. I choose a life of surrender, joy, and service to whatever You choose.
William Barclay wrote, "...there can be no religion without adventure... (In The Gospel of Matthew, vol. 2, p. 357). Thank You for the adventure of service. You push me beyond my limits. You take me beyond my comfort. You challenge me in a way that makes life worth living, faith worth exercising, and joy worth experiencing.
I have lived long enough to know something of my own strengths and my own weaknesses. I know something about the gifts and abilities You have invested in me, talents that I have nurtured, and skill deficits that I lack. "Whatever talent we have, little be it or great, we must lay it at the service of God..." (Barclay, p. 357).
But the challenges keep coming. They are unrelenting. Sometimes, I just long to pause and rest a bit. Barclay writes that "The reward of work is not rest, but more work..." (p. 357). Jesus said, "I must work the works of Him who sent Me while it is day" (John 9:4).
So, I work. I work for You. Help me to invest my energy in that which is eternal. Help me to live for Your glory. Develop my skills and ability through the supernatural anointing of Your Holy Spirit through practice, repetition and faithful service. Barclay said, "If we have some proficiency at a game or an art, if we have some gift for doing something, the more we exercise that proficiency and that gift, the harder the work and the bigger the task we will be able to tackle" (p. 358). I choose to exercise myself in the knowledge of the holy and in doing Your will, Heavenly Father, as best I understand it.
Thank You for pushing me beyond my boundaries. Protect me from placing limits on You that restrict You from introducing me to the expansive adventure of Your will for my life. I want to know You in a greater measure. I want to experience You in deeper intimacy. I want You to work Your very character through every facet of my life.
I have one deep supreme desire
That I may be like Jesus
To this I fervently aspire
That I may be like Jesus
I embrace the boundless adventure of knowing You.
In the Name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit,
Amen.
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