April 11, 2001 By ROBERT FIGUEROA Well Done Good & Faithful Servant, Now Stop Digging In the Ground! During Christ' last week leading to the Cross on Calvary, 48 events are recorded in Scripture. Of those 48, the 14th event of the week occurred when Jesus spoke of the parable of the talents as told in Matthew 25:14-30. As Jesus was sitting on the Mount of Olives on a Tuesday afternoon, He rested privately with His disciples. He was talking about the Pharisees, Sadducees and the Scribes. He begins this huge discourse on the end times and what it will be like, so the disciples had their ears wide open to hear about the future. As the many illustrations that Jesus has He began by saying, "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. 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." - Matthew 25:14,15 Now at this time possibly Thomas was thinking, "How can the Kingdom of Heaven be like a man on vacation!?" But Peter on the other hand with his great understanding, probably understood what Jesus was trying to say. I Am That Traveler Coming Back Jesus was attempting to tell them, that one day He would be the man traveling to a far country and He would come back soon! The Lord intrusted gifts to them and to us today. "His own servants" is referring to the believers, we that are baptized in Jesus Name. Jesus gives us each a special talent or a gift to use not to hide in the ground but to use for the Kingdom of Heaven. Christ knows us perfectly and will give to us according to our ability. If He gives it we need to use it despite our lack of faith or whatever is holding us down. The first two servants did something with their talents, they immediately went to work for there Lord. Not loosing the excitement or their passion, kinda like when we were first baptized, we wanted to change the world. We need to be faithful in the little things and be diligent also. These servants used their abilities and energy and what they did not have they depended on the Lord for their strength. It's very easy for us in this fast pace world to get discouraged and want to give up. But if we depend upon the Lord we will make it till the end. These servants multiplied there talents and when the Lord came back from the far country, they were rewarded. The Lord said, "Well done good and faithful servant." Just image one day very soon we will hear the same words from our Savior. The worries will be gone, the pains of these world well be in the past what a glorious day that will be. Oh, The Third Servant Now reality kicks in, the third servant. Whose name can be translated as: lazy, wicked, slothful, just doesn't want to do it. His sin was omission, which means , neglect, does nothing, somebody else can do it. This servant simply was to busy caring for himself and the pleasures that surrounded him. What God almighty gave him he hid in the ground. He didn't want anyone to notice his gifts. Essentially he threw what God gave him away under the dirt. Now this man's reward was nothing nice. The Lord casted this servant to outer darkness where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth. A place away from the presence of God. Time To Reveal Your Talent? We must always remember the promises of God; His return is coming soon and we need to be busy doing the work of the Lord. The disciples were given this illustration and I believe the moment the Lord left this earth they were busy doing the will of God. What is your gift? Every believer has one, maybe you need to pray and ask God to reveal the talent that is already inside of you, that you may be mighty for the Lord. God is looking for faithful and willing people in this end time. "Wherefore I put thee in remembrance that thou stir up the gift of God, which is in thee by the putting on of my hands." - 2nd Timothy 1:6 Robert Figueroa is the co-executive producer of Inspired Christian.org. With his wife Irma and sister-in-law Beverly Aguilar, they attend the Apostolic Church in East Palo Alto, California. He's happy to receive your email at robertfig@inspiredchristian.org. More articles in our Passion Week special We're here for you! Send us your thoughts, staff@inspiredchristian.org. Home | Site News | Reviews | Churches | CyberReading | Bible College Copyright, Inspired Christian.org