2 And the Lord replied, “A faithful, sensible servant is one to whom the master can give the responsibility of managing his other household servants and feeding them. 43 If the master returns and finds that the servant has done a good job, there will be a reward. 44 I tell you the truth, the master will put that servant in charge of all he owns. 45 But what if the servant thinks, ‘My master won’t be back for a while,’ and he begins beating the other servants, partying, and getting drunk? 46 The master will return unannounced and unexpected, and he will cut the servant in pieces and banish him with the unfaithful. 47 “And a servant who knows what the master wants, but isn’t prepared and doesn’t carry out those instructions, will be severely punished. 48 But someone who does not know, and then does something wrong, will be punished only lightly. When someone has been given much, much will be required in return; and when someone has been entrusted with much, even more will be required. (NLT)
When someone has been given much, much will be required in return; and when someone has been entrusted with much, even more will be required.
Those are powerful and deep words for this morning. Jesus doesn’t hold back. He uses them to describe something that is true for us all. That is with what we have been given we have a responsibility to use it in service to the kingdom and to others.
What Jesus expresses goes beyond the financial. It connects to a deeper reality that God gave us certain things so that we might love the Lord, the church, and others. Perhaps the best way to express this is through a personal illustration.
I have been blessed in many ways. I have been given a lot. I have my health, my family, a place to sleep, experiences as a journalist, passions for the poor, education, my personality, and so much more. With each of these gifts and talents, I have a responsibility to God use these gifts and passions in ministry to the Lord and the world.
But, how? My health, for instance, gives me the stamina to serve. My family can be a witness of grace and love to families who are broken. My home can be a place of hospitality to the community. My experiences as a writer can be used to communicate with the church and larger world. My passions for the poor can be used to find ways to reach out into Latonia and neighboring communities. My education desires that I help to teach and inspire others what it means to follow God. My personality helps me to connect with others and form relationships.
With each of these gifts, I have a responsibility to use them not just for myself, but for the greater good of serving Christ and loving others. It is a big responsibility. We each carry that with us. No one is exempt from serving Christ. We are all in ministry together as one body unified under one purpose to love Christ and to love others.
God has blessed you with enormous gifts, and because of this much is required of you and of us. How might you live into your responsibility to serve Christ through your gifts today?
