Matthew 25:28
"So take the talent from him, and give it to the one with the ten talents."
As I reflect upon the movement in this scripture, the movement is not favorable for the servant. The servant was forced into yielding what was initially given to him. Yielding is a gesture that can be displayed in two meanings: a posture of faith that will yield in increase, and a posture of giving up that yields to nothing.
Sometimes we allow F.E.A.R. (False Evidence Appearing Real) to be a focal point that causes us to miss the essence of the gifts that are graced to us. How can we learn from this servant? God’s gifts are precious, and each of us has been chosen to be the bearer of those assigned gifts. Life will present situations that will challenge us in many ways, but our God-given gifts are there to bless us. When we choose not to activate those gifts, it not only becomes an insult to God, but a bottle cap that prohibits us from growing, developing, and profiting. Seeking wisdom and knowledge for that which has been assigned and gifted are perfectly fine. This demonstrates that we have accepted what has been given and are willing to do our best in working at it.
In this season of lent, let us seek God for the understanding and use of our gifts and resources that may yield to increased knowledge, fruitfulness, and greater impact for good. Yielding to fear yields nothing. Let us not miss our gains by having to yield what we have not used to someone else; but let us move into yielding to what was given us knowing we are the assigned bearer and God honors our faith in yielding.
Music: Joy Ike | "Omission" | 3:11m
Practice: Learning About "Ambiguous Loss"
Visit On Being's website and listen to Krista Tippett's conversation with Pauline Boss on "Navigating Loss Without Closure" (click here).
.png)
