to each according to his ability.
Jesus knows our limits. He only gives us as much at a time as we can handle. But even so, we have to handle it. Yet we see Jesus harvesting where he did not plant and gathering where he did not scatter. We realize something supernatural is afoot. We assume he must be mistaken to give us anything at all. And then he leaves! He's off on a journey and it seems we are left to our own devices. But let's not bury our talents this morning. Let us trust that the master knows what he is doing. He wants to give us great responsibilities. And he only wants to do that because he wants us to share his joy. These great responsibilities are actually kingdom privileges.
Somehow we are called to be "co-workers in God's service" (cf. 1 Cor. 3:9). That makes a little sense when we remember that we are called to be "partakers of the divine nature" (cf. 2 Pet. 1:4). He invites us to share both his work and his rest (cf. Heb. 4:1). Do we trust him to get us there? We aren't particularly wise, powerful or noble. In a lot of ways we are foolish, weak, lowly , and despised. Compared to the task at hand we really do count for nothing. But the LORD delights to use us!
Rather, God chose the foolish of the world to shame the wise,
and God chose the weak of the world to shame the strong,
and God chose the lowly and despised of the world,
those who count for nothing,
to reduce to nothing those who are something,
so that no human being might boast before God.
We need to believe that he knows what he is doing when he assigns the talents. We must not sit on the grace we are given. We must not hide the light underneath a basket. If we don't trust the master we are going to bury the talents he gives us. We'll see them as something fearful, meant for our condemnation, rather than something awesome, meant to bring us joy. When we understand that God is for us and not against us (cf. Rom. 8:31) we are free to use the power he gives us without holding back. At the end of the day we won't be concerned about getting a greater reward than brothers and sisters with fewer talents. We won't be concerned if we get the same amount as those who have only been in the field a short time. We will be too busy celebrating the fact the we are allowed to help at all.
But we often get it backwards. We believe that God will only love us if we get it right with our responsibilities. But it is just the opposite. We need to know and believe in his love for us (cf. 1 Joh. 4:16). We are just earthen vessels. The surpassing power is from him (cf. 2 Cor. 4:7). Even if the master seems to be off on a journey, even if he doesn't return for "a long time", he is still our wisdom, our righteousness, santification, and redemption. This is true even when he seems distant. Feelings are only feelings. He may feel distant. He may be using this feeling to help us grow in maturity. But we can be sure that he is with us to harvest where he did not plant and to reap where he did not sow. On our own, we can do nothing (cf. Mat. 15:5), and so "Whoever boasts, should boast in the Lord."
We are blessed because the Lord choses us, not because we choose him. Let us praise him.
But see, the eyes of the LORD are upon those who fear him,
upon those who hope for his kindness,
To deliver them from death
and preserve them in spite of famine.
Let us, therefore, take every opportunity to spread the kingdom that we are given, trusting in the one who gives.
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