A different angle on the Parable of the Talents…
The "Parable of the Talents" is one that you are likely familiar with.
But if not, I’ll paraphrase the story (found in Matthew 25:14-30).
There's an owner of a large estate (we'll call him Mitch). Mitch has 3 managers. He gives Bill $500,000 to manage, Ted $250,000, and Rob $50,000 then leaves on a business trip for quite a while.
When he arrives back home Bill has grown $500,000 into $1,000,000! Obviously, Mitch is quite delighted, and tells him "Fantastic job!". Ted, likewise, has doubled his money and Mitch is thrilled saying "Fantastic job, Ted!". And then there's Rob, who flopped, giving Mitch back only his initial amount.
While the obvious point of this story is Rob's failure to do his job. I want to focus on something you may not have noticed about Mitch's response to Bill and Ted...
Even though Bill had double the amount for Mitch than Ted did. Mitch was EQUALLY pleased with their management of what he had given them.
They both did a great job. Both of them managed what they had been given well.
The point I'm hoping we take note of is this:
The amount we have to manage is not the gauge by which stewardship is measured.
God has a mission for all of us generally ("Go, make disciples..") and a mission for each of us specifically ("..the body does not consist of one member but of many..."). <- Click to read the whole passage
To some, he has given great wealth and/or talent and with it, the weight of that level of responsibility. To others, he has given seemingly less, and with that comes a lack of ease or opportunity. He did this for a reason. He knows exactly where he wants us and is writing our story a certain way for a specific reason so that we may, as a whole, reach the world for Christ and bring him glory.
Now, don't get me wrong -I do believe that when a person, people, or nation follow God‘s precepts it's logical (and true) to think that blessing and ease may follow - however that's because he knows how humans’ function best and he knows how the world spins the smoothest (in a way only The Creator could!). This means this is a potential byproduct of following his ways -not a promise.
The promise that comes with following God isn't riches and ease. The promise is his presence, which results in peace and joy (amongst many other things!)
It comes when our joy is rooted in God himself, not his blessings.
So don't look around to see if others may have more or less than you. Focus on what you have been given and manage it in a way that will make you look forward to The Owner coming home.
Action Plan
Let's prayerfully ask a few soul searching questions:
How much has God given me?
Am I managing it well?
What steps can I take to better manage what God has given me?
Do I subconsciously gauge how much God approves of me by how many blessings I have compared to others? (Does this make me feel prideful or ashamed?)
Feel Free to share this article with your spouse, family, and friends!
Until next time!
I hope you have some conversations with God about money,
“The eye cannot say to the hand, “I have no need of you,” nor again the head to the feet, “I have no need of you.” On the contrary, the parts of the body that seem to be weaker are indispensable, and on those parts of the body that we think less honorable we bestow the greater honor, and our unpresentable parts are treated with greater modesty, which our more presentable parts do not require. But God has so composed the body, giving greater honor to the part that lacked it, that there may be no division in the body, but that the members may have the same care for one another. ”
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