BUT I DIDN’T GET AS MUCH!
Well done, good and faithful slave; you were faithful with a few things, I will put you in charge of many things, enter into the joy of your master.
Matthew 25:21
Kids have a keen sense of fairness and equality. At Christmas time, they are unhappy campers if they feel another sibling received more or better stuff than they received. “BUT THAT’S NOT FAIR!” is a familiar refrain heard by many parents.
DOES GOD GIVE GIFTS EQUALLY?
Obviously, the greatest parent is God Himself. Everything we have as human beings is from the Father (James 1:17). But does God the Father dole out all things equally? Without question, the answer is no.
In the parable of the talents in Matthew 25, the master entrusted his servants with wealth (a “talent” is a sum of money equivalent to 20 years wages) “each according to his own ability” (Matt. 25:15). One servant was given five talents, one was given two talents, and the last servant was given only one talent. “How unfair,” that last servant undoubtedly thought. But it was fair because it is the mater’s prerogative to do whatever he wants with his stuff… AND “to whom much has been given shall much also be required” (Lk. 12:48). If God entrusts a person with much, He will require much from that person.
WHAT ARE YOU DOING WITH WHAT YOU HAVE?
We all have a tendency to compare our gifts, talents and blessings with others. When we fall into that trap, we can start to become ungrateful and wonder why we did not get as much as someone else. Perhaps you are a one talent person, resentfully wondering why others received five times more than you did. Listen, the question is not why did you not get more, the question is what are you doing with what you got?
The time is now for all of us to quit whining and griping about what we do not have… and start using what we do have. Jesus told us that if we are “faithful with a few things,” He will put us “in charge of many things.” Are you being faithful with what you have… even if it is only a little?
ONE AWESOME STORY
Martha Berry (1866 to 1942) was a great Christian who founded the Berry School for needy children in Mount Berry, GA. She once asked car mogul Henry Ford for one million dollars to assist her school. He coolly gave her a dime instead. She took that dime and began to use it. She bought some peanuts with that dime and had her schoolboys plant a small crop. She sold the crop and, with the proceeds, bought more peanuts to plant a larger field. Over time, she accumulated enough money from those peanuts to buy a piano for the school.
Martha Berry wrote a letter of gratitude to Henry Ford, telling him what they were able to accomplish with his dime. Ford was so impressed with Martha’s faithfulness, resourcefulness and work ethic that he invited her to come to Detroit. When she arrived, he presented her with a check for $1,000,000. Why? She was faithful with a few things… and he could trust her with many things.
When the Master comes to settle accounts with his servants (you and me), may He find us faithfully, cheerfully and gratefully working with what He entrusted to us!
Love,
Pastor Jeff Schreve,
From His Heart Ministries
