Living in the Spirit
November 15, 2020
Scripture Reading: Matthew 25:14-30
‘For it is as if a man, going on a journey, summoned his slaves and entrusted his property to them; to one he gave five talents, to another two, to another one, to each according to his ability. Then he went away. The one who had received the five talents went off at once and traded with them, and made five more talents. In the same way, the one who had the two talents made two more talents. But the one who had received the one talent went off and dug a hole in the ground and hid his master’s money. After a long time the master of those slaves came and settled accounts with them. Then the one who had received the five talents came forward, bringing five more talents, saying, “Master, you handed over to me five talents; see, I have made five more talents.” 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.” And the one with the two talents also came forward, saying, “Master, you handed over to me two talents; see, I have made two more talents.” 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.” Then the one who had received the one talent 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; so I was afraid, and I went and hid your talent in the ground. Here you have what is yours.” 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? 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. So take the talent from him, and give it to the one with the ten talents. 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. As for this worthless slave, throw him into the outer darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.”
From everyone to whom much has been given, much will be required; and from one to whom much has been entrusted, even more will be demanded. –Luke 12:48b
I saw a story on the news about soldiers who had been in battle returning to the USA feeling the need to use the service skills they had learned in the military in helping others. They started responding to disasters with the same tenacity they enter battle. Now they are formalized as a non-profit, Team Rubicon, Built to Serve. Helping others, helps them heal from the ravages of war.
I think it is interesting that Jesus choose using economics to illustrate service in the Kingdom of God. Perhaps he chose it because he understood that wealth vs having enough is something most humans understand. We are taught from early ages the value of money and what it can and does mean in our society. When money becomes our only object of value we sell our souls to acquire riches. 1 Timothy 6:10 probably describes it best, For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil, and in their eagerness to be rich some have wandered away from the faith and pierced themselves with many pains.
Jake Wood, one of the founders of Team Rubicon, said in the news interview that his military service has forced him to seek challenges to use his skills and enable the use of the skills of other soldiers whose experience in war had taught them the better way. We can learn from them.
Prayer: Lord, thank you for those who bravely serve our country and return home to continue their service to help and heal others and themselves. Amen.
All scriptures are quoted from the New Revised Standard Version Bible: Anglicized Edition, copyright 1989, 1995, Division of Christian Education of the National Council of Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights are reserved.