BUT THAT'S NOT FAIR
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 Christmastime, 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” (Luke 12:48). If God entrusts a person with much, He will require much from that same 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, but what are you doing with what you did get?
Pastors can be the worst at comparing themselves. They can easily start resenting bigger churches, bigger ministries, and better preachers/leaders. They can secretly whine, “Why did God not entrust me with that church, that gift, that ministry!?” God’s answer to that familiar lament is simple: “What are you doing with the ministry I did entrust to you?”
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 - 1942) was a great Christian who founded the Berry School for needy children in Mount Berry, GA. She once asked automobile mogul, Henry Ford, for one million dollars to assist her school. He coolly gave her a dime instead. She refused to be insulted, took that dime, and began to go to work. 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. Mr. 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. Wow! Why did he do that? He did it because she was so faithful with a few things that he knew 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
Dr. Jeff Schreve believes that no matter how badly you may have messed up in life, God still loves you and has a wonderful plan just for you. From His Heart provides real truth, love and hope on over 700 radio stations each day, in 182 countries each week on TV, and is always available online. Pastor Jeff takes no income from this ministry. All donations go to furthering the broadcast outreach. As a listener/viewer supported ministry, we thank you for joining with us to help speak the truth in love to a lost and hurting world. Go to www.fromhisheart.org for more information.
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