The parable of talents - a parable of faith

Most of you are familiar with Jesus's Parable of the talents, if not, you can study it in Matthew 25:14-30 . The parable is about a master who goes away on a long journey and entrusts money to his workers. Upon his return, the master examines the 'management' of his workers, but one of the workers disappointed him by not using his faith to grow the money. The primary key message we receive in this parable is about growing or investing your talents as apposed to burying it. However, faithfulness, faith, and deeds done in faith is another key message.

Let's go through the wisdom I've gained about FAITH from Christ in this Parable:

It is FAITH and FAITHFULNESS that leads the workers to invest the money:

In verse 21 and verse 23 the master expresses His joy and gratitude towards two of his workers for growing his money: "His lord said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant..."

Verse 16 Then he who had received the five talents went and traded with them, and made another five talents.

The parable of the talents proves true faith gives a person wisdom, and a wise person operates in faith, which leads us into making wise decisions. True faithfulness requires works, hence true and complete Faith will drive a person into doing things that will cause growth and increase in all they do. It will also cause them to obtain an abundance of blessings. When we are blessed abundantly, we are also able to give abundantly.

Verse 21 His lord said to him, ‘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.’

True Faith moves or drives us towards being prepared and ready for present and future blessings here on earth. It also prepares us for Christ's arrival and leads us to eternal life in Heaven.

Verse 24 “Then he who had received the one talent came and said, ‘Lord, I knew you to be a hard man, reaping where you have not sown, and gathering where you have not scattered seed.

When you are not operating in faith, you are not operating with a sound mind therefore you are likely to make bad choices. In verse 24, the labourer with one talent was clearly not thinking and acting wisely.

Verse 25 And I was afraid, and went and hid your talent in the ground. Look, there you have what is yours.’

When you are not operating in faith you are operating in Fear, as the labourer with one Talent was afraid and hid the talent.

Verse 27 So you ought to have deposited my money with the bankers, and at my coming I would have received back my own with interest.

When God gives us a gift the size of a tiny seed, be sure to know that God's gifts are capable of being grown, and make sure you make wise decisions with God's gifts. We ought to use it in faith, care for it and grow it. This type of ‘works’ will please God, He will see you’ve cherished, grown, blessed and taken full responsibility for the little He’s given and He will surely bless you with more. As Christians it is also important to spread the gospel, and lead people to an abundant life in Christ. We should not bury the Word of God.

Verse 28 So take the talent from him, and give it to him who has ten talents. 29 ‘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.

If your faith is dormant or lazy, you will hinder your growth, and will not grow your talents and gifts that God has entrusted you with. He will take it all away.

Verse 30 And cast the unprofitable servant into the outer darkness. There will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.’

It is foolish to be lazy with what God has given you, because faith can produce abundance of good things. The beautiful thing about our journey with Christ is that He wants us to be profitable. When we receive in abundance we are able to give to the needy.

Matthew 13:12 “for to the one who has, more will be given, and he will have an abundance, but from the one who has not, even what he has will be taken away”.

It is active faith that leads us to produce an abundance of blessings. If you are sitting with God's gifts and not growing it, then you are not fit to be part of His Kingdom.

If you are Not operating in faith you are sinning. Everything that does not come by faith is sin: Romans 14:23 And he that doubteth is damned if he eat, because he eateth not of faith: for whatsoever is not of faith is sin.

Faith changes the “ballgame”:

It is dangerous to operate lukewarm because it’s not operating in complete faith.

Imagine you are watching your favourite football match live, you’d want your team to win instead of having equal score. We are not to be in equal score with the enemy, meaning we must not be lukewarm in our faith, a person with lukewarm faith cannot grow neither can they have the peace of Christ.

Revelation 3:15-16 I know thy works, that thou art neither cold nor hot: I would thou wert cold or hot. So then because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spue thee out of my mouth.

What is FAITH and what is Not Faith

Hebrews 11:1 Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.

Faith is not merely a belief, or an inactive belief, faith is active and alive! Faith is not something that sits in your mind dormant. Faith comes through reading the Word of God. Faith is a lifestyle, it is in your choice words, it is in your actions, it helps you maintain a relationship with our almighty God.

Ephesians 6:16 above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked

Faith is not just what we believe, it is a part of the armour of God and a weapon of warfare. Weapons are to be used in battle, and not to be left dormant, it will become rusty and dusty, God gave us weapons because we there is there is an enemy that seeks to kill and destroy. Use your faith to quench the enemy! Faith is a shield used to quench the fiery darts of the enemy.

Faith is not reckless, it provides strength and wisdom, and faith is not to be tested. In Matthew 4, satan tempted Jesus, he said to Jesus, “If You are the Son of God, throw Yourself down”. This was a pure evil request, satan expected Jesus to obey his ridiculous, reckless command. Do not fall into satan’s temptation, instead use your faith and the Word of God to command the enemy and his temptation to flee, resist the devil! God is FAITHFUL, and He will not let you be tempted beyond your ability, meaning your ability to SAY NO!

Hebrews 11:6 But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.

To live in faith is to live in the Spirit

We are saved by grace through Faith, we live in a harsh world and being saved is not once off, Christ constantly saves us as we constantly call upon His name. We always need God because we are imperfect people living in an imperfect world. We need to live in the Spirit. Hebrews 11:6 "But without faith it is impossible to please God..."

2 Timothy 2:22 Flee also youthful lusts: but follow righteousness, FAITH, charity, peace, with them that call on the Lord out of a pure heart.

The Christian life is an active one in Faith

By faith we live in the Spirit, by faith we have to proactively choose God and resist the devil. It is not hard, it’s merely a mindset, and it actually makes life easy! The Bible asks us to renew our minds, we can with the help of the Holy Spirit. Let’s start living actively in Faith because it is impossible to please God without faith.

Hebrews 6:1 Therefore, leaving the discussion of the elementary principles of Christ, let us go on to perfection, not laying again the foundation of repentance from dead works and of faith toward God.

Everyday we have the opportunity to live in faith, it is though faith we are able to love one another. When you believe the word of God you will live by faith in God, and when you live by faith in God you will no longer operate in fear, you will gain wisdom and operate with a sound mind.

How do we start living in Faith?

Hebrews 12:2 2 looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.

God Bless you

~Natlie Loots~