What Do You Got?

Again, the Kingdom of Heaven can be illustrated by the story of a man going on a long trip, and he called his servants together and entrusted them with his possessions. He gave five bags of silver to one, two bags of silver to another, and one bag of silver to the last — dividing it in proportion to their abilities. He then left on his trip.

Right off, the first servant went to work and doubled his master’s investment. The second did the same. But the one who had received the one went and dug a hole in the ground and hid his master’s money. After a long absence, the master of those three servants came back and settled up with them.

The servant to whom he had entrusted the five bags of silver came forward with five more and said, “Master, you gave me five bags of silver to invest, and I have earned five more.” His master said to him, “Well done, good and faithful servant. You have been faithful and trustworthy over a little, and I will put you in charge of many things; share in the joy of your master.”

The servant who had received the two bags of silver came forward and said, “Master, you gave me two bags of silver to invest, and I have earned two more.” The master said, “Well done, my good and faithful servant. You have been faithful in handling this small amount, so now I will give you many more responsibilities. Let’s celebrate together!”

Then the servant with the one bag of silver came and said, “Master, I knew you to be a harsh and demanding man, reaping where you did not sow and gathering where you did not scatter seed. So I was afraid to lose what you gave me, and I went and hid it in the ground. See, you have what is your own.”

But the master replied, “You wicked and lazy servant! If you knew I harvested crops I didn’t plant and gathered crops I didn’t cultivate, why didn’t you deposit my money in the bank? At least I could have gotten some interest on it.” Then he ordered, “Take the money from this servant, and give it to the one with the ten bags of silver. For to everyone who has and values his blessings and gifts from God, and has used them wisely, more will be given; and he will be richly supplied so that he will have an abundance; but from the one who does not have because he has ignored or disregarded his blessings and gifts from God, even what he does have will be taken away. Now throw this useless servant into outer darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.”

‭‭Matthew‬ ‭25:14-30‬ ‭(Taken from Amplified Version, The Message, and the New Living Translations)

Many pastors have focused on “money management” with this passage. I think it has nothing to do with money…at least not how people think. First of all, it is about the Kingdom of God. Then, in my humble opinion, it has more to do with what God has given us. Yes, money could be part of it, but it is more than that. It has to do with everything that God has given us: our personality, skills, opportunities, etc. for spreading His Kingdom.

There is not one Christian whom I have met whom God has not gifted them, at least something. The question is “what are you doing about it?” and not “how much do you get?” It is about our attitude. Are we treating what God gave us as 5, 2, or 1 bag of silver? A person can feel like they are only given 1, but it only matters if they work it like they were given 5.

How would that work? Say you are poor, so you have no money to give, but you give your time to care for others in whatever way and go that extra mile to help others in your workplace. When you live your life like that, you are already living like the one who was given 5 or 2. However, if you are given 5 (like you are making good money and have multiple talents/abilities) but live like you are only given 1? Be prepared to be thrown into the darkness.

When you count every penny of your giving, spend more time with your own recreation than things for God, or no one can tell you are a Christian in your neighbourhood or school/workplace, you are burying what you have been given. You should not be expecting any reward from God.

So, what do you got?