Doing Nothing Is Doing Something….

In the parable of the 3 servants, Jesus tells us about how we view God determines how we behave. It’s not the major point of this parable but it is important. The first servant is given 5 bags of silver. He takes it and turns it into 10 bags of silver. The second servant turns 2 bags of silver into 4 bags. The third servant was fearful of losing the money so he did nothing (buried the bag of silver). Looking at this from a worldly perspective we can see two of the servants used what they were given to produce more, while the third servant did nothing because he allowed himself to be paralyzed with fear. Some people would say, “that’s not selfish, he couldn’t help it”. But that’s what happens when we allow our feelings to dictate our behavior. When we know what’s right, we have to set aside our feelings and do it. Is it selfish to squander your talent? According to this parable it is selfish to not use the talents God has given us. It all starts with how we view God. If we see Him as a Father Who gives good gifts, we see a need to not waste those gifts in honor of the Giver. If we see God as an authoritarian, one who takes without asking, and does as He pleases with no regard for our well-being, then our motivation to use our talents for His glory will not exist. Why would anyone want to please a self-centered, egotistical person? We wouldn’t. Here’s the point I want to make, doing nothing is doing something. Not making a decision is making a decision. Wasting our talents by either being selfish about it, or doing nothing, isn’t what God wants from us. To honor the Giver of the gift (talent), we respond by using those gifts (talents) in a way that will honor God Himself, help others, and of course benefit ourselves (in that order). Doing nothing is doing something. You may call it laziness, but I would call it selfishness. Don’t waste the talents that God has given you. Put them to work. The reward will be greater than you could ever expect. The key is how you see God, as to whether your talents will be multiplied or wasted. How many people do you know have wasted the talents they’ve been given? Don’t be one of them. Honor God by the way you live, and you will see fruit produced throughout your life. And most importantly, you will hear the most important words a human being can hear, “Well done, good and faithful servant”.

14 “Again, the Kingdom of Heaven can be illustrated by the story of a man going on a long trip. He called together his servants and entrusted his money to them while he was gone.15 He gave five bags of silver to one, two bags of silver to another, and one bag of silver to the last–dividing it in proportion to their abilities. He then left on his trip.16 “The servant who received the five bags of silver began to invest the money and earned five more.17 The servant with two bags of silver also went to work and earned two more.18 But the servant who received the one bag of silver dug a hole in the ground and hid the master’s money.19 “After a long time their master returned from his trip and called them to give an account of how they had used his money.20 The servant to whom he had entrusted the five bags of silver came forward with five more and said, ‘Master, you gave me five bags of silver to invest, and I have earned five more.’21 “The master was full of praise. ‘Well done, my good and faithful servant. You have been faithful in handling this small amount, so now I will give you many more responsibilities. Let’s celebrate together!’22 “The servant who had received the two bags of silver came forward and said, ‘Master, you gave me two bags of silver to invest, and I have earned two more.’23 “The master said, ‘Well done, my good and faithful servant. You have been faithful in handling this small amount, so now I will give you many more responsibilities. Let’s celebrate together!’24 “Then the servant with the one bag of silver came and said, ‘Master, I knew you were a harsh man, harvesting crops you didn’t plant and gathering crops you didn’t cultivate.25 I was afraid I would lose your money, so I hid it in the earth. Look, here is your money back.’26 “But the master replied, ‘You wicked and lazy servant! If you knew I harvested crops I didn’t plant and gathered crops I didn’t cultivate,27 why didn’t you deposit my money in the bank? At least I could have gotten some interest on it.’28 “Then he ordered, ‘Take the money from this servant, and give it to the one with the ten bags of silver.29 To those who use well what they are given, even more will be given, and they will have an abundance. But from those who do nothing, even what little they have will be taken away.30 Now throw this useless servant into outer darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.’ Matthew 25:14-30