Press On!

"Not that I have already obtained this or have already reached the goal; but I press on to make it my own, because Christ Jesus has made me his own. Beloved, I do not consider that I have made it my own; but this one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal for the prize of the heavenly call of God in Christ Jesus" (Phil. 3:12-14, NRSV).

There is no doubt in my mind that my life as a Christian is based upon the concept of a race or journey. I read the above passage as a runner. I know that there is only way to run a race in order to win. You have to run straight ahead, focused upon the race at hand. You can't look behind you or you will fall. If you look around from side to side, you can get distracted and lose form as well. You have to focus on hitting that tape at the finish line squarely. This is what it means to utilize proper form in order to maximize your running ability. Oh yeah, never forget to relax and to breathe, breathe, breathe. Relax your hands and focus your mind on the race at hand. Now you can focus on your running form. Who knew track would be so useful?

The only proper way to have proper running form is to constantly seek to improve the way in which you run the race. You have to want it - to press on as Paul puts it. This can best be done by consciously attempting to develop your relationship with Jesus Christ. By striving to do this, by striving to live the life of holiness that we are called to live, I believe that I will be able to live a more productive and excellent life. While there is a great deal of personal risk present in such an endeavor, you must believe that the potential risks are far outweighed by the potential rewards.
For so many people the hardest step to take in the field of personal development is the first one. It is almost standard operating procedure for people to assume that they are stuck with their situation in life. The old adage from Popeye, ..I am what I am.. seems to be the rallying cry for all too many. I believe that there are many different reasons for this but that the main culprit is fear. Fear of commitment. Fear of failure. Fear of change.

Fear keeps many from growing because they are afraid that if they were to change, their current positions in life would no longer prove to be of worth to them. In other words, so many have sold themselves short. They never cleared the bar because frankly, they never attempted to jump in the first place. Teddy Roosevelt lamented this condition when he said, "It is hard to fail, but it is worse never to have tried to succeed."
It is with this thought in mind that I have sought to develop and increase my devotion to my savior, Jesus Christ. I desire to pursue him because he pursued me first. Through this process, which by the way will carry me through my entire life, I know that I will be able to stand along with Paul in saying, "I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith" (II Timothy 4:7, NIV). While this may appear to be braggadocio on the surface, I must say that I am not able to say such things of my own volition. I will be able to confidently stand in the assurance that whatever was accomplished in the kingdom through me was done in concert with the Holy Spirit. My primary task is then to both surrender to his will and to strive to become all that I can be.
The ancient Greeks hit the nail on the head, so to speak, when they exalted the concept and pursuit of excellence in their lives. Through the pursuit of arête, or the Greek concept of excellence, I will find that I have for far too long settled for a cheap imitation of what my life could have been. Therefore, it would be most wise to say: "I am willing to say enough is enough. I have had enough of complacency and even mediocrity. I no longer wish to settle for the things in my life that have had led to a numbing of my heart and soul. From this day forward, I pledge to live a life that is devoted to the pursuit of excellence and improvement in my personal, professional and spiritual lives."
I believe that the most important relationship that I have in my life is the one that I am blessed to have with Jesus Christ. As this is the most important relationship in my life, I believe that it should serve as the barometer for all other relationships in my life. However I continue in my walk with Christ will go a long way in determining how I interact with my family, my church and my community.
I believe that the first priority in the life of a Christian should be to increase and cultivate the actual time spent in communion with their savior. This means that I will need to not only increase my time spent in prayer, but that I must also seek to make that time more productive. For me, this means that I need to guard my time more wisely. It is so easy to become side-tracked, today more than ever. With so many options available to me, I find myself pulled in competing directions. To that end, I must be able to set aside more time for the development of my prayer life.
Next, I believe that it is vital that I seek to increase my time spent in the Word and with other theological works. By doing so, I not only deepen my relationship with Christ, I also gain more knowledge which can then be passed on to others. While we demand a go, go mentality; even in the church, there can be no substitute for acquiring a willingness to put the brakes on and to slow down and spend quality time reflecting on the beauty and truth inherent in the Word.
Another way in which my personal relationship with Christ can be augmented is ironically, through relationships of accountability with other people. By understanding that I live my life before God and humanity, I become more concerned about my behavior and actions. I believe that this can best be done by finding, or even starting, a group of two to three other pastors who are willing to confidentially hold the other group members accountable for living a life of holiness and excellence in their homes and churches. Making myself subject to the inspection of others can but help me to live a life that is conductive to the production of excellence.
The final way in which I am seeking to improve my relationship with Jesus is in the area of life surrender. I want to totally give myself up as a "living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God"(Rom.12:1, NRSV). By continually seeking to live a life of holiness, I will be better equipped for ministry and will be closer in my walk with Christ. I do believe that through this process, entire sanctification will grow into continued grace and maturity which will culminate in glorification when I reach my Father who is in heaven. Until that time, I want to live a life that will match my talk. I believe that this will be accomplished best by implementing the strategies that have already been discussed in this section.
What are you going to improve your life? Are you going to be willing to surrender every fiber of your being to the one who gave you life in the first place? I've outlined a few personal strategies that I am working on in order to deepen my fellowship with Jesus. I'm not saying any of this in order to slap myself on the back or to ridicule you. If it sounds preachy, then thanks. I mean, hey, you go to the doctor to get treatment, right? Shouldn't one who calls himself pastor preach?
None of this talk of excellence has any relationship to making piles of money, etc. in the name of God. I am not advocating a "Your Best Life NOW" strategy. In Matt. 28:19, we are called by Christ to make disciples of all nations. This is an attempt to push for something deeper, something more committed than reciting a couple of lines of liturgy, singing a couple of hymns and nodding off during the sermon. Our life must include more encounters with Jesus Christ than just during Sunday morning worship time. Church is beautiful and should be attended. However, your soul, your walk with Christ should be attended to daily. After all, what kind of relationship is based on once-a-week contact?
Is your Bible dusty? Was the last time you were on your knees last week when you dropped that quarter? Folks, a life of excellence is a life that is given over to Jesus Christ. It is a life that is characterized by holiness. This means living a life of perfect love. This means being devoted to becoming - not just being - in love with Christ. To be sanctified, to be holy means to be set apart, to be different, to be "other". It is about not just giving your heart to Christ, but your ENTIRE life. It means being SET FREE from the sin nature.
Guess what? You DON'T HAVE TO SIN! Did you know that? A Christian's life shouldn't be characterized by sin. I John 3:9 tells us that when we are born of God, we are dead to sin. This means that our sin nature is eradicated. Now, this doesn't mean that you will be perfect. It means that you can be set free from the WILL TO sin. What a concept!! The Holy Spirit can enable you to do this, to live an excellent life, one that is free from the bondage of sin and addiction. Is there a catch? Sure!
You have to be willing to do ONE thing now. You see, the thing is, you are going to do it anyway. It's just a matter of when and under what circumstance you are going to do it. Phil. 2:10 tells us that "at the name of Jesus, every knee should bend, in heaven and on earth and under the earth." We will all bend our knee before Christ. Will you do it willingly NOW or will you do it in resistance before him in judgment - when it's too late. In other words, who are you going to serve? Yourself or Christ? By the way, those are the ONLY two choices, folks. Acknowledge him now as your savior. Isaiah warns us to pursue the Lord while he is still close. In other words, if this moving you in any way to make a commitment to Jesus for the first time or to deepen your walk with him, then do it. ASK! Ask for the Holy Spirit to guide you. There are no set formulas for this. Open you heart before him and confess your need and desire for his lordship. Don't let pride and mediocrity get in the way of living a life of excellence today. So, run that race the right way - straight ahead, not looking back or to the side. Focus on hitting the tape and press on!

Opening the eyes of my heart

My sister posted a great and powerful adage that we, as Christians, get to cling to. "When God closes one door, he always opens another..." This phrase may seem cliched but I think it is very true and very powerful. I responded in part by saying, "Give me eyes to see, O Lord!" But what does it mean to have eyes to see? I think that in order to truly be able to see, we must use more than our physical eyes. We need to be able to tune in with the eyes of our heart - that is our spirit. But how is this accomplished?
We can find that answer in Ephesians 1:17-19. Paul begins the passage by stating that there are three things that will open the "eyes of your heart". He then moves to elaborate upon these three things. I believe that Paul uses the phrase "open the eyes of your heart" in order to state that we need to focus on the big picture of life, both that lived here on earth and the one to come in eternity.
It is so easy to get bogged down with trivial matters. As C.S. Lewis stated, we live "like an ignorant child who wants to go on making mud pies in a slum because (we) cannot imagine what is meant by the offer of a holiday at the sea..." (The Weight of Glory) In other words, we settle for what we know, no matter how mundane because we forget or have no ability to comprehend just how grand of a scale our lives CAN be lived upon. The only true way that we can change is to, as Paul said, to have "the eyes of hearts" opened.
In v.18, Paul mentions "the hope to which he has called you". We are saved and bought at a high price. I need no longer fret about my eternal destination because Jesus paid the price of admission - all I must do is accept it and live it. I can only really live out my salvation when I focus less on myself and more on others. If I become self-focused, I become lost in pity and get removed from community. I have been given an incredible hope - the hope of eternity in heaven with Savior for all time!
Paul then mentions the "riches of his glorious inheritance." I am a child of the king! Paul also writes that we are joint-heirs with Jesus. This means that we are going to inherit more than we can possibly comprehend. I'm not talking about earthly riches, like gold or paper money. I am talking about eternity here. Infinity. Transcendence. We have the promise that, as saints, we get to partake in the splendor of the universe. If this seems like a mind-boggling concept - this is because IT IS! I'm not going to attempt to describe every bit because "no eye has seen and no ear has heard" what magnificence God has in store for us.
Finally, and this is where the pay-off is- we know that these two things will come to pass because we serve a God who possesses "immeasurable greatness" and power. Our God is so far beyond our puny imaginations. Think about this for a second. Our God, my God, is omniscient. He knows EVERYTHING. He is omnipresent. He's EVERYWHERE. He is omnipotent. He is all-powerful. There is nothing that God cannot know or overcome. He is so powerful that he possesses the ability to NOT strong-arm us into loving him. It is said that those who possess true power know it. They don't have to flaunt it. The power is innate and it radiates from every fiber of their being. When you are around someone like that, you too know they are powerful. Just imagine how much more power God possesses then.
He has allowed us to CHOOSE to accept him or reject him. He wants my true love. He wants me to come to him only if I want to. This is what blows my mind. My entire eternal destination is not decided by someone else. It is decided by me. Now, there are incredible consequences that come with my choice. I can choose to live like I have hope and a glorious inheritance ahead of me. I can choose to recognize that God is all-powerful and that he made the way to him through his son, Jesus Christ. All I have to do is accept this and then live for him. THIS is what will "open the eyes of my heart."
When I focus on the glorious hope and future that I have in Christ, my arrows, my pain, my struggles start to pale in comparison. My wants and desires begin to become more centered on what Jesus would want for me rather than what I think I want.
And yet, it is still so easy to try to find our doors to open. The problem is that in seeking our own doorways, we tend to choose our own "mud pies" because we know no different. Our eyes are then closed. If we reject God's paths in exchange for the temporal and ever-changing, we then live life grasping at straws. We then spend our lives searching for peace that never comes. We wind up living looking for the next big thing, yet when this comes, it is never enough.
It's like living with an itch that you just can't scratch. I know because I have lived that way. I chose to make my own "mud pies" because I never wanted anyone - ANYONE to tell ME how to live MY life. But you know what? Nothing fit. Nothing gave me peace. Nothing allowed me to look at myself in the mirror and actually LIKE what I saw. Sure, I had attended church for years. I knew my Bible. That wasn't the problem. I studied to be a pastor but I walked away from it when things got really tough. Why? Because the "eyes of my heart" were closed. I had the head knowledge and some raw gifts. The problem wasn't that. The problem was that I hadn't allowed God to become REAL in my life! That is a choice that must be made. You have to WANT it.
I believe this is what Paul is alluding to in this passage. He is offering a brief glimpse into the realm of possibilities. We don't have to live in the squalor of our own lives. I no longer have to live a selfish and incomplete life. Jesus has offered so much more. One choice. Just one choice can change everything. If we will but "open the eyes of our hearts", we gain HOPE, INHERITANCE and the knowledge that the omnipotent creator of all things is ultimately our Lover, Lord and King. In this way, our eyes are able to finally see those other doors that may bring our greatest hopes and needs. What a wonderful promise!

Unifying the Body of Christ

I read an interesting blog entry earlier this morning about worship styles and the potential division that they can cause. There is a growing trend in churches to offer both a traditional worship service - consisting typically of hymn-based music and traditional liturgies - and a contemporary service - consisting typically of praise choruses and more "updated" liturgies. In addition to this trend, some churches are also choosing to have one service that utilizes what is called a "blended" style of worship - consisting typically of both a traditional hymn and a praise chorus and blended worship styles.
There is a great deal of controversy swirling around all three of these styles. Advocates for holding two services believe that in having both styles, they will be more attractive to both younger and older people. The thought is that the traditional service will attract older people and that the contemporary service will bring in the younger generations. Others adhere to a blended style because they believe that everyone could be attracted to this service.
I have listened to many arguments on both sides and have attended churches that offer all three kinds of worship services. Interestingly, these arguments tend to grow quite passionate. Advocates for two services tend to believe that two services can serve more people but those who differ on the subject, as does Tony Campolo, believe that two services tend to grow two separate congregations with two separate allegiances. He states his argument, along with scriptural justification below:

In Matthew 13:52, we read that Jesus said, “The kingdom of Heaven is like a householder who brings out of his treasure chest things new and things old.”"
"Any worship service that is all the new stuff is not the kingdom of God. Any worship service that is all the old stuff is not the kingdom of God. There needs to be balance between the two if it’s to be representative of the kingdom that Jesus wills for us to enjoy. Some churches have tried to settle this conflict by having two different services—one which uses contemporary worship music and one where the music is traditional. The problem with this is that it tends to create two separate congregations with two different perspectives on the faith." (Tony Campolo)

Those are some heavy words. On the other side of the subject, advocates for the separate worship services state that by blending worship styles, you tend to come up with a service in which no one is entirely pleased and you are left with a worship time that can feel lukewarm or non-committal to either one or both of the worship styles presented.
This controversy has been something that has troubled me for years. On the one hand, I really empathize with what Tony Campolo says. His main concern with holding two different services is a valid one. Do you want division and different allegiances within the same body of believers? Isn't unity in all things what we are called to have as Christians? Despite these concerns, I wonder if a blended approach to worship is really what is best.
I believe that there are a few ways to move to overcome the potential division that comes from having multiple styles of worship. First, I believe that all services need to be unified from the pulpit. That is all services receive the same teaching, rather in person, by Skype or some other medium that ensures that all services; regardless of venue or time are linked by the same message, theology and teaching. This approach seems to be utilized well in larger churches, as an example, like College Wesleyan Church in Marion, IN. Second, there must be offered times of combined services, whether in one style or another. Such a thing will encourage church unity. Third, the church needs to have other services: small groups, Sunday morning classes and Wednesday night offerings that offer multiple occasions to come together as a unified body.
Blended services may be a good alternative in the right situation. I think that churches that have worship services of 200 or fewer in morning attendance might be best served with a blended approach rather than a split approach. The easy and quick answer to this is that the are no easy and quick answers in regards to what is the best mode of worship. I believe that patience, prayer and vision are required in order to truly know what type of worship service will serve your church best.
The bottom line is that Tony Campolo, as always, is provocative and challenging. That is one of the many things that I love about him. He is a type of modern prophet in that he never allows his audience to feel comfortable or complacent. I think that he raises a very real question: are we more loyal to our own service or to the overall body of our church? Even more so, are we more loyal to the sign on the door or the reason why the door is there in the first place? We can never forget, despite differences in preferences, the church exists to be the one, the unified Bride of Christ. All else that divides her and that places schism in the mix is to be avoided and overcome through prayer and supplication to the Holy Spirit.
What do you think of the argument? Have you had positive or negative experiences with one style or another? I am anxious to hear what you think about this issue because it is a very real one and has led to too much division in the body already. Thanks for your input!

Hate Religion, Love Jesus: Observations on the video

This video - which I have posted a link to on my facebook page - https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100002741355058&ref=tn_tnmn - hit me right between the eyes and contains some powerful stuff. It does contain provocative language, as you can tell from the title, but it makes such a valid point: church membership doesn't bring eternal life with it. If there are no actions, no evidenced faith in your life, how can you really consider yourself to be a Christian? Like I said, that is some very provocative and confrontational stuff. Is it off-putting? Possibly. But is it effective? Judging from the 1.5 million hits on youtube, I would say so.
A couple of observations: first - it is doubtful that Jesus is aiming for you to vote Republican. I love that statement because to me, politics and the church do NOT mix. I have seen nothing but division come from it. I think that pastors, in particular, need to spend more time in watching over their flock than stumping for politicians. Check out the Biblical record: Jesus not only avoids any political entanglements, he also, save for his "render unto Caesar that which is Caesar's" comment really has no focus upon politics at all. My point is that politics exist within a different sphere than does our commitment and walk with Christ. I am not suggesting that one should drop out of the political discussion, I am merely saying that we need to keep that element out of our churches and Christian discussions.
Second - and even more confrontationally speaking, the line about our true identity was powerful. Do we live a life outside of the church and outside of Sunday that brings glory and honor to Jesus? Is it clear to others, by the way that you live and love, that you belong to Christ? It's not enough to call ourselves Christian on facebook and then live like that the Christian declaration is utilized for nothing more than a line that fills out a personal profile. In the video, such an action is likened to one buying a Lakers jersey and then saying that you play for them. Ouch... I found that one to be powerful and particularly convicting. It looks like there is some remodeling due here. I have bitterness to let go of and repenting to do.
Finally then, remember: no one is saved through ritual alone. No one is saved through attendance alone. Remember, God wants our hearts, our lives much more than he wants our sacrifices (Hosea 6:6 & Matthew 12:7). In other words - church is great but religion saves no one. Also, it is clearly stated that the author loves the church but that our focus must be on Christ alone. Your salvation doesn't come from a building, an organization or from any other man than the man Jesus alone. The focus of the video here is clear: if someone was observing you throughout the week, would they know that you are a Christian? I don't know about you, but I've got some major work to do.

The Toughest Love

We hear adages like this all of the time: "Love those that love you. Hate those that hate you - after all, if they don't respect you, why should you respect them. Do you want them to walk all over you? You need to get out there and get yours." There is no question that we live in a me first society. True story: several years ago on I-270, the wrap-around route that surrounds Columbus, OH, I was cut off by a passing car, as one of only three cars in close proximity no less, that bore the license plate tag "ME FIRST". I guess they weren't kidding. Wow.
But when I look at myself for a moment, I have to wonder, am I any better? Let's see. As a driver, I notice that I have an interesting habit of creating names for every driver that either moves too slowly, cuts me off or fails to signal. Amos T. Chet. Claude. Jake. I could go on and on. It's easy to say that I grew up hearing that, but what is it that I am doing? I get mad when drivers treat me in a way that is against what I feel I deserve. Are these feelings the same as hate? Oh, pretty much.
Going one step further: when a country goes against our country, either through a military, "terrorist" or economic action, what is our first response? We, through our leadership, usually try to impose our will upon them - in the interest of "national security", of course. I heard one presidential candidate last night state that we are not tough enough on certain countries and that we need to move quickly and decisively against them in order to show our strength. This was actually the quote that got me to think about this post.
As a Christian nation and as a Christian myself, am I to exert my will on others? Am I to love my loved ones and to hate those who have hurt me or picked on me through the years and to carry grudges against them for hurts even decades old? Am I supposed to despise all other drivers on the road because they dare get in my way? Hmmm.
Luke 6:27-36 lays it all on the line. Read what Jesus has to say on this subject for a moment: "But I say to you that listen, Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who abuse you" (vv.27-28). Wait a minute - what did he say? Is that not the exact opposite of what we might hear from day to day? Love my enemies? Huh?
There's more. "If you love those who love you, what credit is that to you? For even sinners love those that love them. If you do good to those who do good to you, what credit is that to you?... But love your enemies, do good, and lend expecting nothing in return" (vv.32-33, 35).
That's radical stuff. Is it even possible in today's world? Can we truly love our enemies? Can we do good to all? Can we repay evil with good? I believe that we can. Think about it. What kind of world would we be living in then?
What if we started to treat others well and if we did things for others without feeling the need for reciprocation or even acknowledgment? What if we caught that door for another? What if we allowed that pedestrian to cross, that car to get out in traffic in front of us or better yet, even, what if we simply stopped carrying hurt and grudges to others and simply forgave that other person for hurts and began to treat them in a truly loving manner?
What if, as Christians, we actually prayed for the people and nations who despise us, who despise our country and all that America is supposed to stand for? What if, instead of cutting off aid to countries who disagreed with us, we continued to send humanitarian aid and food to the people who need it the most?
Would we be weak doormats? Passive, timid wimps? I don't think so. If we truly incorporated the teachings of Jesus in this arena, I believe we would actually be tough. In fact, think about this, we would demonstrating the toughest kind of love: potentially unreturned love. It's easy to love our friends, our family and those who treat us well. Almost everybody does that. It's not that tough. Try loving someone who is mean or difficult to your face. Try returning good for evil. Then see how tough love can be. "Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful" (v.36).
Never forget those words. Never forget the true toughness that Jesus demonstrated on the cross. He forgave those who did that to him. He stands to forgive our sins and our evil. Now, is that weakness? We are called and capable of doing the same thing, even today. I know that I have some work to do, by the grace of God. It will be difficult, but why else do I think it is called "tough love"? Have a great and blessed one and thanks for reading.
Feel free to comment, to pass this on.

Using What You've Got

Who doesn't want to be the biggest, baddest or brightest? I'm #1, baby! Watch any sporting event and what you will see at some point during the game is that somebody is going to look at the camera and stick up that index finger and demonstrate to the world that even though their team is 5-11 or getting beat by three scores - they are indeed the best! Something is wrong though, isn't there? Can it be true that everybody is #1? Probably not. But what are the options? Are fans of the most lowly team supposed to hold up all of their fingers and show that they are #27? Again, probably not. We most definitely live in a "just win, baby" culture. But what happens when we don't win?
I think it can also be said that we live in a very beauty-obsessed world. Everywhere you look in the media, every commercial, it seems, is full of beautiful people. Apparently, only perfect people go to the grocery store or out to eat or to pretty much anywhere. Take one trip to any of those places and look around. You will see differently, won't you? Unless a woman is flawless, she isn't considered to be all that she can be.
What seems to develop as a result of both scenarios is that you have too many people who simple give up. They stop rooting for a team when they are anything less than the best. We see people gain negative self-images when what they see in the mirror doesn't quite compare with what they see on TV. Are we to simply quit or hide if we aren't the best?
Matthew 25:14-30 details the Parable of the Talents. In it, a master is heading out on a long journey. Before he goes, he leaves money with his slaves. He gives out the money according to the abilities of the slaves. One gets five, one two and another gets one. Notice something here. Not everyone gets the same amount of money. That might seem unfair - oh, we love to immediately jump to that statement, don't we? If things don't go my way, how quickly do I say, "that's not fair". I am quick to go there, but remember, what in life really is fair?
At any rate, the story continues. After the master leaves, the slaves get to work. The one who received five talents went out and made five more. The one who received two went out and made two more. Here's the interesting part: the one who received one went and dug a hole and put his talent in there. We are told that after a "long time" the master returned. Upon his return, he desires to settle up accounts. He then begins to call in the slaves.
The slave who was given five talents comes in first. He quickly states to the master that not only did he have the original five talents to give back, but he also had five more to give. What an overachiever, huh? There's your brightest and best. In response, the master gives this reply, "Well done, good and faithful servant; you have been faithful in a few things. I will put you in charge of many more, enter into the joy of your master." (v.21)
Next, the slave who was given two talents enters. Just as quickly as the first, this servant proclaims to his master that not only did he have those earlier two talents to give back but that he also had two more! Pretty fine stuff there! The master, in somewhat surprising fashion, says the very same thing to this slave, a mid-line but solid worker, that he did to the first slave.
Finally, the slave who was given the one talent enters. This slave begins by offering some flowery language. You can almost picture this exchange in your mind's eye. Perhaps the slave stands up and begins to put on a display. He straightens his posture. He clears his throat quickly and puts on the most serious demeanor that he can. "Master, I knew that you were a harsh man, reaping where you did not sow, and gathering where you did not scatter seed; so I was afraid, and I went and hid you talent in the ground. Here you have what is yours." (vv. 24-25)
This seems like a very fair statement. The slave knew he didn't have much to lose. He didn't have a ton to begin with. The last thing that he wanted to do was to return with nothing. At least, it might appear that this is the case. What the master says in reply to this servant is most telling. He says, "you wicked and lazy slave! You knew, did you, that I reap where I did not sow, and gather where I did not scatter? The you ought to have invested my money with the bakers, and on my return I would have received what was my own with interest... as for this worthless slave, throw him into the outer darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth" (v. 26 &30).
Whoa! Wait a minute, what is going on here! The slave thinks they are just being frugal or that since they don't add up to the best that they should just hold on to what they have, at the very least. Yet, it is the master who shows that this is an unacceptable position. The slave was never expected to BE the best. He was expected to do something, anything with what he was given. And there you have it: the moral of the parable. Regardless of what or how much you are given by God, you are expected to use it as well as you can. To do nothing with your talent, to think you have nothing to offer or even worse, to know you at least have something to offer and to hold on to that talent is simply a recipe for disaster.
In this parable, the master never expects the slave who received one talent to be the biggest, the brightest, #1. The master simply expected that servant to use what they were given. I think that this is an important lesson to learn in life. I know that I have, for far too long, maybe even recently, been much closer in action to that third slave than I ever should be.
How about you? Are you using whatever you have been given for the coming glory of your master? Remember, the point here is not that we are required to be the biggest and brightest. We are to use whatever it is that we have been given. To not to do so is simply an affront to our master. The next question then is this. What are you going to do about it? Are you going to use whatever talent or talents that you have been given for the glory of your master, God? Or are you going to live in fear, stating how unfair it is that you aren't the best and simply hide what it is that you have? You can't do that, I can't do that and expect our master to accept that answer. Use what you've got, even today for the glory of God.