I really enjoy leading the study but, to be honest, teaching the Bible is still a bit intimidating for me at times. The Bible has some things to say about teaching sound doctrine, and I really want to get it right. (See, for example, 1 Timothy 6:3 and Titus 2:1) So, I try to spend a good deal of time in study and in prayer before I open my mouth.
I don't really know how much the folks in our group get out of these studies, but I can say that without fail the Bible speaks to me in new ways every time I prepare for a lesson. I may start with the idea of getting ready to teach and lead, but it seems to always end up with me being the student -- learning just a little bit more about the nature of God, about my relationship with Him and about my own Christian walk.
One of the parables we have been studying is the "Parable of the Talents." You probably know this one, but for those who don't check out Matthew 25:14 - 30 (which I have copied below). The gist of this parable is that the master went on a journey and entrusted his money to three servants. To one servant the master gave five talents, to one servant the master gave two talents and to the last servant the master entrusted one talent.
While the master was away the servant who was entrusted with five talents and the servant who was entrusted with two talents each doubled the money they were given, and each was rewarded for his efforts. The servant who was entrusted with one talent, though, had a very distorted perception of who the master was and, put simply, did not trust Him. As a consequence the last servant buried his talent for fear he would lose it and be treated harshly.
We spent a great deal of time discussing this particular parable, and I really can't cover that entire conversation in this blog. But, I do want to share with you this revelation that came to me as we were talking through this last Wednesday: I was reminded that when I first came to Heartland Church eleven or twelve years ago I myself was a "one talent" kind of guy. It's true -- I was doing absolutely nothing to serve God. And, even as I grew in my faith the prospect of someone like me serving God in any meaningful way just seemed absurd.
Somewhere along the way, though, I began to feel God's call on my life, and I decided to stick my toe in the water. Before I knew it I was in neck deep and, as you might imagine, I had a lot of questions. Questions like "why me?" or "am I really qualified?" or "what if I don't know how to swim?!" In many of those moments Sherry Ferris would remind me that if God could use a donkey then God could probably use someone like me. (See Numbers 22:21 - 34)
I am not by any means saying that I am a five talent guy today -- or anything close to it. What I am saying is, well, if God can use a donkey (or someone like me) He can use you too.
If you are a five talent guy (or girl) or a two talent guy (or girl) that's great. God has high expectations of you. But, if you are a one talent kind of guy (or girl), this is not the time to despair. I am confident that if the servant with one talent had just trusted the master, if he had truly put his faith in God, and if he had put his shoulder to the wheel, that one talent would have become two (or maybe four or five!). And, the same is true of you. We serve a God who has set us up to succeed -- not to fail. "For we are God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do." Ephesians 2:10.
So fellow one talent guys, what do you say we get to work?!
The Parable of the Talents (Matthew 25:14 - 30 [NIV])
14 “Again, it will be like a man going on a journey, who called his servants and entrusted his property to them. 15 To one he gave five talents[a] of money, to another two talents, and to another one talent, each according to his ability. Then he went on his journey. 16 The man who had received the five talents went at once and put his money to work and gained five more. 17 So also, the one with the two talents gained two more. 18But the man who had received the one talent went off, dug a hole in the ground and hid his master’s money. 19 “After a long time the master of those servants returned and settled accounts with them. 20 The man who had received the five talents brought the other five. ‘Master,’ he said, ‘you entrusted me with five talents. See, I have gained five more.’21 “His master replied, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master’s happiness!’
22 “The man with the two talents also came. ‘Master,’ he said, ‘you entrusted me with two talents; see, I have gained two more.’
23 “His master replied, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master’s happiness!’
24 “Then the man who had received the one talent came. ‘Master,’ he said, ‘I knew that you are a hard man, harvesting where you have not sown and gathering where you have not scattered seed. 25 So I was afraid and went out and hid your talent in the ground. See, here is what belongs to you.’
26 “His master replied, ‘You wicked, lazy servant! So you knew that I harvest where I have not sown and gather where I have not scattered seed? 27 Well then, you should have put my money on deposit with the bankers, so that when I returned I would have received it back with interest.
28 “‘Take the talent from him and give it to the one who has the ten talents. 29 For everyone who has will be given more, and he will have an abundance. Whoever does not have, even what he has will be taken from him.30 And throw that worthless servant outside, into the darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.’
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