A RETURN ON THE INVESTMENT

 

“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.  Then he who had received the five talents went and traded with them, and made another five talents.  And likewise he who had received two gained two more also.  But he who had received one went and dug in the ground, and hid his lord’s money.  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.  ‘For to everyone who has, more will be given, and he will have abundance; but from him who does not have, even what he has will be taken away.  And cast the unprofitable servant into the outer darkness. There will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.’  (Matthew 25:14-30)

God expects a return on His investment.  He has invested much in us—at the price of the blood of His Son.  He has given us the opportunity to live in this life in such a way that it pays dividends in eternity.  In His sovereignty, He has distributed spiritual gifts to each of His people to be employed in His service.  All God’s children are gifted children.  We are not to be in the comparison business—either envious of the gifts of others, or egotistical about our own.  The measurement of success is how we do in proportion to our capacity not how we do relative to others.  Should we seek to hoard the blessings of God and waste them in carnal passions and temporal pursuits, we squander the privilege that has been given to us.  You can spend a life on your own desires—but you will have everlasting regret.  On the other hand, if we take what God has given us here and invest it in the hereafter, we will be thankful to hear God’s commendation.  The life that glorifies God by bearing much fruit will be met with the most precious words, “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.”  What has God given you?  What will you do with it?