Hello Everyone,
How is your week going? Thank you for your positive feedback on the last article that I wrote regarding God being the God of all nations. If you missed the article, click here to read it.
At the beginning of the week during my time alone with God, and at my workplace Christian fellowship, I reflected on the Scripture in Matthew 25:14-28 where Jesus described His kingdom.
Jesus said His kingdom is like a man who gave three servants money (he gave one servant, 5 pounds, another servant, 2 pounds, and the third servant, 1 pound) to spend and invest wisely. Two of the servants spent the money and invested wisely. They were faithful with the money they were given and their master blessed them. Their master was impressed by how they had produced more from the little he had given them.
What about the third servant?
I haven't forgotten about him:)
The third servant did not do anything with the money he was given, he preserved it and didn't do anything with it. The master wasn't pleased with what the third servant had done as he expected him to have generated more money with what he had been given. Not doing anything is actually doing something.
How can we apply this teaching to our present-day Christianity?
Let's start by changing the word 'money' to talents/ special gifts/abilities/skills. The Lord gave them special talents/abilities/gifts/skills. God has given each and every one of us special gifts/talents/abilities/skills for us to use as good works on this earth, to bless lives and to shine the light of God.
Ephesians 2:10 says "We are God’s creation. He created us to belong to Christ Jesus. Now we can do good works. Long ago God prepared these works for us to do."
Are you using the gifts the Lord has given you to be a blessing to your church, community and surroundings?
While God has not given us equal gifts/talents/abilities/skills but He has given every person a gift/talent/skill/an ability to impact lives positively. This story about the three servants is a reminder that we are all going to give account to God for how we are using/used the talents/gifts/skills/abilities He has given us.
The unfaithful servant wasted an opportunity to produce much more with the money he was given. As a result, he was judged as a wicked, evil and lazy person. You probably won't have thought a wicked/evil person is someone who chooses not to do what the Lord had asked them to do.
You are responsible for what you do with the talents/gifts/skills/abilities that the Lord has given you, and you are also responsible for where you use the talents/skills/gifts/abilities the Lord has given to you.
Are you using the talents/skills/abilities where the Lord would like you to use them?
For your good works to be acceptable before God, you must use the talents/gifts/abilities where and when He wants you to use them at every particular time. Let me share a personal experience with you.
A couple of years ago, the Lord instructed me to leave a bubbly and big flourishing church where my husband (fiancé at the time) was part of the leadership team of the church, and I should go to a church in Sandwell to support them as they were crying in the spirit for help. I am a firm believer in doing whatever the Lord instructs even when it doesn't make sense.
I had a discussion with my fiancé and my best friend about what the Lord was asking me to do. They both said since the Lord was asking me to do this, I should go for it. I left the old church and committed myself fully to the new church in Sandwell, UK. The Lord said my service to Him was not going to be acceptable if I stayed serving at the old church even if I was using my talents/gifts/abilities really well, even if people and the leaders were praising me.
I took a courageous step and left the church immediately and I started attending the new church. I didn't burn any bridges with anyone as I told the Pastor of the old church and I still attended special events at the old church. In fact, they had a special programme for my husband and I when we were about to get married.
I grew so much in wisdom, knowledge, and understanding of ministerial ethics and served joyfully during my time at the church in Sandwell. I also made new friends that I have continued to sustain. God also blessed me tremendously. After marriage, my husband and I relocated to another town. We were asked to plant a church in the town we were moving to but God didn't give us the go-ahead at the time. Nevertheless, a few years down the Lord, God gave us the go-ahead to plant a church.
Actually, I have only shared a positive experience with you. Let me share another experience in which I didn't take the right step before I eventually learnt from God about the importance of taking the right step at the right time.
There was a time when I moved to a new city and I ran away from a new growing church as I refused to commit. I wanted to be attending two churches at the same time and eventually decide where I would be. The Lord said you cannot serve two masters and I must choose to serve in 1 place. I chose the big church to serve. The Lord seriously told me off for not committing to the growing church where they needed help. I apologised to God and the Pastor for the wrong step that I had taken.
I went through a time of intimacy with God to learn what it means to serve God. I am immensely grateful to God for what He has taught me over the years. I also thank God for giving me another chance which I responded positively, with the help of my fiancé (now husband) and my best friend.
Why did I share my personal experience with you? I shared for you to know that where and when you use your talents/skills/gifts/abilities matters to God as you will give account to God about this.
Why not take a pause and say a prayer to God?
Prayers
Lord Jesus, grant me the awareness to know the gifts you have given me.
Lord Jesus, grant me the wisdom to know where and when you would like me to use my gifts.
Lord Jesus, let my service be accountable to you.
Lord Jesus, help me not to serve you in vain.
Lord Jesus, give me the courage to always do what pleases you.
Do any of the above resonate with you? Which ones, and why?
I love hearing from you in the comment section. Please take a minute to say hello in the comment section.
Enjoy the rest of your week!
Yours in Christ,
Mysses Lafunky
I have a free e-book for you. The book (15 Women of the Bible: How they lived a Purpose-Driven Life). This e-book was written by my Bible Study Group. To download it on Google Drive for free, click here.
