Jesus teaches us to improve on what God has given us.
Our culture puts a great value on "belief"... it says if you believe in Jesus, you are as good as signed, sealed, and delivered into the Kingdom of God. We have come to see "belief" as different from following Jesus. So these examples that Jesus gives now are bound to make us feel uncomfortable. Jesus expects his followers to improve on what he has given us while we wait for his return. The reward is two fold... more responsibility and sharing in God's joy. The result of not improving upon what God has given us is... well, rather harsh....
Matthew 25:14-30 14 "For it is as if a man, going on a journey, summoned his slaves and entrusted his property to them; 15 to one he gave five coins, to another two, to another one, to each according to his ability. Then he went away. 16 The one who had received the five coins went off at once and traded with them, and made five more coins. 17 In the same way, the one who had the two coins made two more coins. 18 But the one who had received the one coin went off and dug a hole in the ground and hid his master's money. 19 After a long time the master of those slaves came and settled accounts with them. 20 Then the one who had received the five coins came forward, bringing five more coins, saying, 'Master, you handed over to me five coins; see, I have made five more coins.' 21 His master said to him, 'Well done, good and trustworthy slave; you have been trustworthy in a few things, I will put you in charge of many things; enter into the joy of your master.' 22 And the one with the two coins also came forward, saying, 'Master, you handed over to me two coins; see, I have made two more coins.' 23 His master said to him, 'Well done, good and trustworthy slave; you have been trustworthy in a few things, I will put you in charge of many things; enter into the joy of your master.' 24 Then the one who had received the one coin also came forward, saying, 'Master, I knew that you were a harsh man, reaping where you did not sow, and gathering where you did not scatter seed; 25 so I was afraid, and I went and hid your coin in the ground. Here you have what is yours.' 26 But his master replied, 'You wicked and lazy slave! You knew, did you, that I reap where I did not sow, and gather where I did not scatter? 27 Then you ought to have invested my money with the bankers, and on my return I would have received what was my own with interest. 28 So take the coin from him, and give it to the one with the ten coins. 29 For to all those who have, more will be given, and they will have an abundance; but from those who have nothing, even what they have will be taken away. 30 As for this worthless slave, throw him into the outer darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.'
The master sees the first two servants as trustworthy, not because these two servants accepted, believed in, were thankful for, or kept safe the things that the master gave them, but because the servants multiplied the gifts. What gifts (money, knowledge of the gospel, friends, students, talents, skills, education, love, joy, etc) has God given us that we need to multiply? Do we ignore this story by first not acknowledging that what we have is from God and secondly not seeking ways to improve upon it for him?
Well, that is the upbeat side of the story. There's a third servant who not only doesn't improve upon the gift the master gives him, but attacks the master! The servant judges the master by accusing the master of exploiting the labor of others! The servant exposes himself as someone who has never really loved the master - never been on his side - never wanted to work for him - never wanted to follow him. We know the servant is wrong in his judgement - the master knows it too and points out to the servant that if he really believed this, he would have at least given the gift to someone else to use. The third servant is unwilling to take responsibility for his shortcomings and tries to blame the master making up lies about him. The result is that the servant is thrown into outer darkness. And worst of all, Jesus calls him "worthless."
I really wish Jesus wouldn't say those kind of things. But this is the reality of what the gospel writers heard him say.
Do we ignore Jesus' teaching that we are expected to improve on what God has given us?
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