14"Again, it will be like a man going on a journey, who called his servants and entrusted his wealth to them.
15To one he gave five bags of gold, to another two bags, and to another one bag, each according to his ability. Then he went on his journey.
16The man who had received five bags of gold went at once and put his money to work and gained five bags more.
17So also, the one with two bags of gold gained two more.
18But the man who had received one bag went off, dug a hole in the ground and hid his master’s money.
19"After a long time the master of those servants returned and settled accounts with them.
- P116
26"His master replied, ‘You wicked, lazy servant! So you knew that I harvest where I have not sown and gather where I have not scattered seed?
27Well then, you should have put my money on deposit with the bankers, so that when I returned I would have received it back with interest.
28"‘So take the bag of gold from him and give it to the one who has ten bags.
29For whoever has will be given more, and they will have an abundance. Whoever does not have, even what they have will be taken from them.
30And throw that worthless servant outside, into the darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.’
- P117
In this well-known parable, the master entrusts different amounts of gold to his servants. Two of them are faithful with what they have been given, and they double what they have received. The master praises these servants, entrusting them with more responsibilities and inviting them to share in his happiness. The parable reminds us that God gives different gifts and abilities to each of us, and we do not have to question God’s reasons or be envious of others. Rather, we should be faithful with what we have been given, and we will share in the joy of partnering with God and multiplying His kingdom blessings. - P118
May we recognize what He has entrusted to us and be faithful in bringing more glory to Him. - P118
The final servant with the one bag of gold comes and hands back what hehas been given. His excuse for his laziness is that he fears his master andviews him as a hard man. We might shake our head in judgment at thisman, who did not even earn interest on his master‘s gold, or might excusehis behavior because his master did not return for a long time. However,
we, too, can be tempted into being unproductive and lazy when we thinkGod does not care about us or what we do. - P118
"The real test of being in the presence of God is, that you either forget about yourselfaltogether or see yourself as a small, dirty object. It is better to forget about yourselfaltogether."-C.S. Lewis - P118
Dear God, thank You for the gifts and abilities that You have entrusted to me. May I not be lazy or stingy with them. Lead me to use them faithfully so that I may be a joyful partner for Your kingdom. In Jesus’ name, amen. - P119
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