Have you ever grieved the “talents” being buried when his followers are not using and investing what God has gifted them and the selfishness involved. Grieving it even more when we see the masters response to those that bury their talents:
“You wicked and lazy (tardy) servant!”
and they were cast to a place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth (torment).
Which isn’t necessarily only in eternity, it also could mean being tormented on this side of eternity. Maybe this is why so many people are tormented by shame, guilt, condemnation, insecurity, loneliness, depression, etc. They aren’t using their gifts and talents first to their local church, the Church and then to the lost world. (Debatable?!)
If God loves us with reckless abandon, I think He demands the same love out of us. But, we are too calculating in our use of love. We ask ourselves what is in it for me? Is it worth my time? Are they worth my time? What do I not get to do if I “sacrifice” my time for this group?
As we pick up our cross, dying to ourselves, we become a living sacrifice to Jesus Christ, we serve Him and others. But in America, we see a culture of calculated risk rather than reckless abandonment to our faithfulness to God and His plan for the Church and humanity.
We should be moved and impassioned by the heart of God to do good because of our salvation. Our one pure and Holy passion should be to share, serve and celebrate Jesus Christ in our lives. True worshippers of God should be grieved when schedules and circumstances don’t allow for them to meet with their spiritual peers they have been planted with along the streams of living water to grow and glow together in their worship of God.
True worshippers worship Him in Spirit and in Truth. True worship occurs with the life of the person in their family, work, hobbies, habits, etc. Worship has been watered down to emphasize music. Yet, so much music is about worshipping God with our lips but the hearts are far from Him. We must learn to be “sold out” to Him in ALL things, whether in word or in deed.
As God refines His Church by separating the sheep, goats and wolves, I believe He longs for the Church (individuals and whole churches) to unify and worship Him 24/7 around the Truth and in the Spirit, and not when it works out in our schedule. Maybe if we don’t choose brokenness to the things of this world to inspire revival and true worship, we will be broken by economic despair, worldwide travesties, human torment, etc. God is more concerned about our eternal destination than our temporary satisfaction. He is looking to step in upon our behalf in this current spiritual climate of warfare that is not against flesh and blood.
2Ch 16:9 For the eyes of the LORD run to and fro throughout the whole earth, to give
strong support to those whose heart is blameless toward him. You have done foolishly in this, for from now on you will have wars.”
Does this scripture explain the current climate of our world, and especially our culture?! He wants to battle for us and give us strong support! BUT, our hearts are not blameless before Him. We are not committed to Him, His Church or even the lost. We live compromising lifestyles that seek evil and grey areas. Yet, want His blessings. We must live in humility and self-sacrifice. We must live a life where He controls our past, present and destiny. In ourselves we are worthless and destroyed. But, with Him, and in Him, we are priceless and invaluable. His sacrifice on the cross proves this. He destined you to be valuable and defined you with value. Than He gifted you with purpose and a destiny for you to feel these things. But, when we lack to execute His purpose within our lives, the value is not received.
My prayer is that you have an Isaiah experience where you realize just how holy and righteous He really is, and how lacking we really are compared to that. True repentance will be acted upon when we see how desperate we really are in our sinful and powerless lifestyles. Both Christians, and maybe especially Christians, and unbelievers need these experiences to remember why we need Him. Than we won’t worry so much about our time, money, talents, etc. We will realize He is our all in all. Remember Isaiah 6:8-10:
And I heard the voice of the Lord saying, “Whom shall I send, and who will go for us?” Then I said, “Here I am! Send me.” And he said, “Go, and say to this people: “‘Keep on hearing, but do not understand; keep on seeing, but do not perceive.’ Make the heart of this people dull, and their ears heavy, and blind their eyes; lest they see with their eyes, and hear with their ears, and understand with their hearts, and turn and be healed.” (esv)
God is looking for those who in themselves cannot do His calling and are seeking Him. He is seeking for a generation of the church to rise up out of the world and separate themselves from its ‘corruptional’ sin. We are to tarry until He returns. We are told to not worry about tomorrow. We are more than conquerors thru Jesus Christ. But, most don’t experience His full presence because they have buried their talents, and are reaping the consequences of the torment of this world and being disobedient.
As you seek God out with ALL of your substance:
Expect His presence,
Embrace your calling,
Enact your faith,
Execute your talents and
Exclaim His goodness
in all that you do!
Then when the Master returns, you will be rewarded for increasing His Kingdom’s value here on earth by your faithfulness of His investment in your life.
Be blest in His presence, glory and power
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