Last time we looked at the parable of the talents from the prospective of the one that received 1 talent !
Interesting thing about this servant was He risked it by burying it. What if someone dug it up? Did he guard it day and night? Because remember it can’t be as much as the others, YET it was still 16.4 years’ worth of wages, so half a lifespan, and 32 kilograms in weight, that he hid!!! Remember, 1 talent of silver is currently worth around $39,126.08 NZD (32 kilograms x 1,222.69 NZD ) or 1 talent of gold is currently worth around $3,268,745.92 NZD (32 kilograms x 102,148.31 NZD).
And we received this amazing revelation That the Father has asked us to build in excellence not perfection. As excellence allows for mistakes on the Journey”
The thought I wonder how many times we have discerned our efforts as they did not happen as we thought they would ! The verse that came to mind was
Isaiah 55:8-9 (TPT)
“For my thoughts about mercy are not like your thoughts,
and my ways are different from yours.
As high as the heavens are above the earth,
so my ways and my thoughts are higher than yours.
The wrong thing done in faith is always greater than the right thing done in doubt ! For as the scriptures without Faith it is impossible to please God (Heb 11:6)
And ended with this scripture
If you say, “But we knew nothing about this,” does not he who weighs the heart perceive it? Does not he who guards your life know it? Will he not repay everyone according to what they have done? Proverb 24:12
Today we continue with the parable of the talents and from what master found on His return.
Lets read from this prospective.
Matthew 25:19-28
After a long time the lord of those servants came and settled accounts with them “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.’ 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.’ 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.’ 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.’
“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. And I was afraid, and went and hid your talent in the ground. Look, there you have what is yours.’
“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. So you ought to have deposited my money with the bankers, and at my coming I would have received back my own with interest. So take the talent from him, and give it to him who has ten talents”.
Wow! So those ones who used the funds wisely now could prove and had proof of this which made the master happy, yet the one who did not use the funds wisely he was unhappy with him. The two who had proof of what they had done with what was left with them. The Lord said to both of them, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant; you were faithful over a few things, I will make you ruler over many things. So they both were promoted and entrusted with more, including a priceless commodity ’Enter into the joy of your Lord.’ Or in another version of the scripture ‘The Fathers Happness’
which I believe is another meaning of the Kingdom of God! The very thing Jesus had “If you had known Me, you would have known My Father also; and from now on you know Him and have seen Him.”
John 14:7 and John 14:10.
Do you not believe that I am in the Father, and the Father in Me? The words that I speak to you I do not speak on My own authority; but the Father who dwells in Me does the works. Believe Me that I am in the Father and the Father in Me, or else believe Me for the sake of the works themselves”.
Both of these servants did this and the Father worked in Faith, He protected both of them and His investment, here they worked together to create an amazing result (100% profit). And because of this when He returned He welcomed them into the kingdom. But the one that did nothing, did not even try, was crippled by fear, losseverything!
The verse that brings this all in prospective is a question Jesus asked …….But when the Son of Man returns, how many will he find on the earth who have faith?” (Luke 18:8). It’s interesting to think this verse can be taken in two ways when Jesus eventually returns as we see in Revelations or maybe if we died have He comes and gets up.
Yet I also believe it’s every time He visits us in the Spirit, so that we can be promoted by Him at different times throughout our life and eventually accessed/ judged which the Bible says happens at the end of time.
The interesting thing about this is it was the same for Jesus if you read through the gospels.
It follows one test after another, with each providing an opportunity for promotion, from growing up, stepping out leaving His mother, close friend, choosing lay down relationships, provision in fact everything for His Father. To Him then getting Baptised and entering the desert to fast 40 days and 40 nights then being tempted by satan. Doing His first miracle when asked by His mother (water to wine.) Accepting all that came to Him and appointing disciples and then anointing them apostles. Being put aside by all, beaten, betrayed and disowned by His own Father as he died on a cross. Here He did as the servants in our parable of the talent for He gave 100% of Himself.
He was promoted through resurrection and proved a way for us to be the same too.
The first question is do we want this remarkable gift? And secondary are we truly willing to give all we have?
Now before you answer this I want to share a small line in the parable story “to each according to his own ability” He will not give you more than you can handle at a time, remember this amount of responsibility is meant to lead you closer to Him, then in co-labouring you will achieve the impossible, As Jesus did!
So let’s have a look at what we are meant to do with this Faith He has in-trusted us with. It is found in the last part of our second part of scripture we are looking at today.
James 2:15-18 (NKJV)
If a brother or sister is naked and destitute of daily food, and one of you says to them, “Depart in peace, be warmed and filled,” but you do not give them the things which are needed for the body, what does it profit? Thus also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead. But someone will say, “You have faith, and I have works.” Show me your faith without your works, and I will show you my faith by my works.
This part of scripture is also told in another way by Jesus call the The parable of the Good Samaritan is told by Jesus in the Gospel of Luke. It is about a Jewish travelerwho is stripped of clothing, beaten, and left half dead alongside the road. First, a Jewish priest and then a Levite come by, but both avoid the man. Finally, a Samaritan happens upon the traveler. Although Samaritans and Jews despised each other, the Samaritan helps the injured man. (Luke 10 25-37)
Both are an incredible description what faith and faithless works are ! That faith means doing what the Father says despite the culture, business or inconvenience or the lost ! But these what we may see as distractions, inconsistencies or inconvenience are actually part of our test to interns to our promotions.
The other way we can be promoted is through our faith in our trials and test personally as Jesus did. But this verse describes the way and what it is for refining,equipment for the next level of faith and task.
We all experience times of testing, which is normal for every human being. But God will be faithful to you. He will screen and filter the severity, nature, and timing of every test or trial you face so that you can bear it. And each test is an opportunity to trust him more, for along with every trial God has provided for you a way of escape that will bring you out of it victoriously. 1 Corinthians 10:13 (TPT) so lets turn this verse into a personal prayer
So Let’s finish today with a challenge in a prayer !
Will you join me in !
Father I know and except all experience times of testing are normal for every human being. But I believe You are always faithful . That you have already screen and filter the severity, nature, and timing of every test or trial I will face so that I can bear it. I believe that each test is an opportunity to trust You more, for along with every trial You have provided for me a way of escape that will bring me out of it victoriously and also impact the world around me ! I also ask that you will give me greater clarity to see what You are doing, so I can be part of Your remarkable reflection of You through me to the people that came my way or you send me too. Last I prayer t r that you will allow me to be one with you like Jesus was and is with you ! That when people see me they see Jesus and through Him YOU ! Amen
Craig Patten
Itinerate Pastor/Prophet
Encounter Ministries