Trading on God’s Gifts
And unto one he gave five talents, to another two, and to another one; to every man according to his several ability; and straightway took his journey. Matthew 25:15.
The parable of the talents … has a personal and individual application to every man, woman, and child possessed of the powers of reason. Your obligation and responsibility are in proportion to the talents God has bestowed upon you. . . .
When the master of the house called his servants, he gave to every man his work. The whole family of God are included in the responsibility of using their Lord’s goods. Every individual, from the lowliest and most obscure to the greatest and most exalted, is a moral agent endowed with abilities for which he is accountable to God. . . . The spiritual, mental, and physical ability, the influence, station, possessions, affections, sympathies, all are precious talents to be used in the cause of the Master….
Let the businessman do his business in a way that will glorify his Master because of his fidelity. Let him carry his religion into everything that is done, and reveal to men the Spirit of Christ. Let the mechanic be a diligent and faithful representative of Him who toiled in the lowly walks of life in the cities of Judea. Let every one who names the name of Christ so work, that man by seeing his good works may be led to glorify his Creator and Redeemer. . . .
Those who have been blessed with superior talents should not depreciate the value of the services of those who are less gifted than themselves. The smallest trust is a trust from God. The one talent, through diligent use with the blessing of God, will be doubled, and the two used in the service of Christ will be increased to four; and thus the humblest instrument may grow in power and usefulness. The earnest purpose, the self-denying efforts, are all seen, appreciated, and accepted by the God of heaven…. God alone can estimate the worth of their service and see the far-reaching influence of him who works for the glory of his Maker.
That I May Know Him p. 324
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Prayer Requests
—-My next door neighbor needs prayers for a job. She is hunting for work to make ends meet. She would like a good job fairly close to where she lives here in town, so that she will not have to move up north as they say around here. Pray for healing for me. I had a boil that was lanced Thursday last week. Am on heavy antibiotics, and pain killers, seeing it has to be drained daily. John
—–update—Thank the Lord surgery went well. Dean’s lung is no longer leaking air. Next will be his right shoulder. He crushed it and needs a ” plate” put in. This will probably be this week. He is blessed to be alive. All honor n Glory to Our savior. Blanca
—–I need prayer for healing. HA
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Dear Friends,
When our children were little, Ron saw a spider and started acting scared to be funny. His mother, knowing the effect that would have on her grandchildren, picked the spider up and let it crawl on her. Later she told me that it was all that she could do to let the creature crawl all over her, but she did it for their benefit. Little did she realize that would be the start of Ronnie Jay’s life-long love of spiders. He has interacted with them ever since and it is amazing how they seem to like him as much as he likes them.
For example: one day, when Ronnie Jay walked over to the sink to get a drink of water, he happened to startle a jumping spider, who, when he jumped, accidentally landed in a pan of water. Ronnie Jay rescued the now-drowning spider and brought him into the livingroom to show us. The spider seemed grateful for being rescued and showed no fear of him but crawled happily around on Ronnie Jay’s hand for quite awhile.
There is a lesson to be learned from that incident. How often we are like that drowning spider. Before we realize what we have done, we find ourselves slipping and sliding down into a sea of sin and trying desperately to keep our head above water. We cry out as did David, when he exclaimed, “mine iniquities are gone over mine head.” Ps 38:4 We find ourselves in need of Someone to reach down His Hand and rescue us just as surely as that spider needed Ronnie Jay to help him out of the water.
Praise God! We have such a Saviour! “The LORD is gracious and full of compassion.” Ps 111:4 He “hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows” rescuing us from all that the evil one heaps upon us. Isa 53:4 He will not leave us to drown in sin! He promises, “I am with thee to save thee and to deliver thee.” Jer 15:20
Eventually, Ronnie Jay was ready to put him down, but that little spider was content to stay with his rescuer for as long as Ronnie Jay wanted him too. So we too should be happy and content to stay within our Mighty Rescuer’s will. Indeed, our greatest joy should be the One Who has saved us from drowning in sin. Our greatest joy should be in spending time with Him (for He will never tire of our company or send us away), speaking of Him to those around us, praising Him for His goodness. “O give thanks unto the LORD, for he is good: for his mercy endureth for ever. Let the redeemed of the LORD say so, whom he hath redeemed from the hand of the enemy; . . . Oh that men would praise the LORD for his goodness, and for his wonderful works to the children of men!” Ps 107:1-8
May we remember to praise the Lord for the blessings that He showers daily upon us. May we stay very near to our Compassionate Rescuer. May we love Him Who is Mighty to Save with our whole being is my prayer.
Rose