Key Thought

While there are many talents the Lord may give us, the point of this parable is as much about our view of God and what he has given us as it is about using our talents. You see, if we are willing to take what God has given us and boldly use it, holding nothing "close to the vest," and offer it up to his glory, then he will increase our efforts. But if we do what we do, offer what we offer, and use the gifts we use constantly worried about how demanding and ruthless our master is, then what we have will be taken away. But it won't just be taken away. It will be taken from us, we will be punished based upon our neurotic fear of God (versus a reverential respect) and given to someone who is willing to boldly use it to bring honor and glory to God. This is not a reckless faith, but a bold, grace inspired adventurous yearning to do great things with the gifts God has given us. To that kind of grace emboldened heart, God gives more grace because he knows he has found a person who will share it boldly with others, just as God as shared it with us!

Today's Prayer

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O Lord, forgive me for being so uninspired by the gifts you have given to me and the blessing you have entrusted me to use for your glory. I apologize for the times where I have hoarded what you have poured out so richly upon me, fearing that I might not use it acceptably when all you were wanting me to do was to use it generously. Give me a bolder heart to use the things you have blessed me with to bring you glory. In Jesus name I boldly pray. Amen.

Today's Verses in Context

"{The kingdom of heaven is} like a man leaving home to travel to another place for a visit. Before the man left, he talked with his servants. The man told his servants to take care of the things he owned while he was gone. He decided how much each servant would be able to care for. The man gave one servant five bags of money. He gave another servant two bags of money. And he gave a third servant one bag of money. Then that man left. The servant that got five bags of money went quickly to invest the money. Those five bags of money earned five more. It was the same with the servant that had two bags of money. That servant invested the money and earned two more. But the servant that got one bag of money went away and dug a hole in the ground. Then the servant hid his master's money in that hole. "After a long time the master came home. The master asked the servants what they did with his money. The servant that got five bags of money brought five more bags of money to the master. The servant said, 'Master, you trusted me to care for five bags of money. So I used your five bags of money to earn five more.' "The master answered, 'You did right. You are a good servant that can be trusted. You did well with that small amount of money. So I will let you care for much greater things. Come and share my happiness with me.' "Then the servant that got two bags of money came to the master. The servant said, 'Master, you gave me two bags of money to care for. So I used your two bags of money to earn two more.' "The master answered, 'You did right. You are a good servant that can be trusted. You did well with a small amount of money. So I will let you care for much greater things. Come and share my happiness with me.' "Then the servant that got one bag of money came to the master. The servant said, 'Master, I knew that you were a very hard man. You harvest things you did not plant. You gather crops where you did not put any seed. So I was afraid. I went and hid your money in theground. Here is the one bag of money you gave me.' "The master answered, 'You are a bad and lazy servant! You say you knew that I harvest things I did not plant, and that I gather crops where I did not put any seed. So you should have put my money in the bank. Then, when I came home, I would get my money back. And I would also get the interest that my money earned.' "{So the master told his other servants,} 'Take the one bag of money from that servant and give it to the servant that has ten bags of money. Every person that uses what he has will get more. That person will have much more than he needs. But the person that does not use what he has will have everything taken away from him.' Then the master said, 'Throw that useless servant outside, into the darkness! In that place people will cry and grind their teeth {with pain}.'

— Matthew 25:14-30 (ERV)

Easy-to-Read Version copyright © 2001 by World Bible Translation Center. All rights reserved.