Digging into a spiritual principle that separates the winners from the losers

There is a parable In Matthew 25, where Jesus tells of a master who entrusted three of his servants with a portion of his wealth–in the form of talents–a monetary measure of weight equivalent to nearly a half-million dollars by today’s standards.

After some time, the man returned to have each servant provide an account of how they managed the talents he had distributed to them. The first servant explained that he had wisely traded with his talents and multiplied the money. The second servant did something similar. Please with the first two servants, who had made him millions of dollars, the master praised them both.

“Well done, good and faithful servant; you were faithful over a few things, I will make you ruler over many things. Enter into the joy of your lord.”

Finally, the master came to the third servant, who had gained no money, and used his fear as an excuse.

“Lord, I knew you to be a hard man, reaping where you have not sown, and gathering where you have not scattered seed. And I was afraid, and went and hid your talent in the ground. Look, there you have what is yours.”

Unimpressed by the servant’s excuses, the master responded, 

“You wicked and lazy servant, you knew that I reap where I have not sown, and gather where I have not scattered seed. So you ought to have deposited my money with the bankers, and at my coming I would have received back my own with interest. So take the talent from him, and give it to [one of the servants who increased the money].

The master continued, 

“For to everyone who has, more will be given, and he will have abundance; but from him who does not have, even what he has will be taken away. And cast the unprofitable servant into the outer darkness. There will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.”

While there may be thousands of powerful takeaways that could be drawn from this story, let’s focus on just one simple picture of how the Kingdom of Heaven functions on Earth. If a man can grasp this one principle, and aligns his thoughts and actions to it, he will have a positive result.

2000 years ago, a talent represented a measure of gold (approximately $400,000 value), which means that:

talent = resources 

From the day a man is born, he is entrusted to steward an abundance of resources. Think about it! You were born into the limited resource of time, with the resource of parents and teachers who are willing to nurture and develop you, you were born with the resources of healthy food options and clean water, a physical body that can walk, jump, lift, push, pull, carry, and run. You were born with measures of specific creative, communication, intellectual, and physical gifts, and you have been given families and relationships to nurture. 

Do you have eyes that see? Then see! Do you have ears that hear? Then hear! Do you have something to say? Speak it out boldly! Is there a dream or vision in your imagination that your heart burns to create? You are responsible for making a move on that thing! How about your personality? Do you have a unique–or even quirky–personality? Do you hide it in shame, or let it shine loud and proud because it’s what you’ve been given?

By no means is this an exhaustive list of resources, however, my wish is that it expands your thinking to see that you have been given so much to take advantage of, to build with, to capitalize on, and to multiply from. 

There is no real lack in your life—but rather, an abundance of resources available for you to utilize—if you just open your eyes to it. What do you have to work with?

Two other Bible stories come to mind that ask this question.

The first is found in 2 Kings 4. A widow comes to the prophet Elisha expressing that she had inherited a debt crisis that was going to lead to her sons being turned into slaves. The prophet asked “what do you have in the house?” The woman explained that there was NOTHING…except a measly jar of oil. 

Now remember the parable of the talents, 

“For to everyone who has, more will be given, and he will have abundance.”  

The story of the woman and Elisha, ends with abundance, as she ultimately ends up with a house full of oil that she sells and pays off her debt with. Read the story in 2 Kings 4–the long version is much better.

Another story that asks the question “What do you have?” is found in John 6. In this story, Jesus is speaking to a massive crowd–some scholars believe between 15,000-20,000 people. There became an unexpected need to feed the people–a physically impossible task. What happened next was supernatural:

Another of his disciples, Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother, spoke up, “Here is a boy with five small barley loaves and two small fish, but how far will they go among so many?”

Jesus said, “Have the people sit down.” There was plenty of grass in that place, and they sat down (about five thousand men were there) [excluding women and children].  Jesus then took the loaves, gave thanks, and distributed to those who were seated as much as they wanted. He did the same with the fish.

When they had all had enough to eat, he said to his disciples, “Gather the pieces that are left over. Let nothing be wasted.” So they gathered them and filled twelve baskets with the pieces of the five barley loaves left over by those who had eaten.

Again, remember the parable of the talents, 

“For to everyone who has, more will be given, and he will have abundance.”  

You have been entrusted with so much, but what frame have you put around your life and your future? Do you see abundance or do you see lack? Are you joyful about your future or anxious? Your worldview informs every decision you make. Your beliefs are what cause you to take a step forward into a glorious future, or shrink back in paralyzing fear of the unknown.

The decisions we make in the use or neglect of these assets will make us one of two kinds of men:

1. A good and faithful man, who receives increase (abundance)
2. A wicked and lazy man, who receives decrease (poverty)

The parable of the talents clearly shows that excuses are not acceptable. Being “afraid”, or “not ready”, or “not educated/experienced enough, yet” will not get you a “well done, good, and faithful servant.” Rather, these excuses bring judgment on the “wicked and lazy” man–because he chose to stay in his comfort zone.

My challenge to you friend, is that you would live your life with your eyes wide open to the amazing gifts that God has put inside of you. Take ownership of these abundant resources. Reject all fear and execute out of these resources. Take these stories from the Bible into your spirit and let the Word become flesh in you so that you will have success.