Matthew the apostle wrote how Jesus told His disciples that two servants were given five and two talents according to their ability by their master, and each of them gave an account to him. Another servant was given one talent, and Jesus continued his story saying, “Then he which had received the one talent came and said, Lord, I knew you that you are an hard man, reaping where you have not sown, and gathering where you have not strawed. And I was afraid, and went and hid your talent in the earth: lo, there you have that is yours. His lord answered and said unto him, You wicked and slothful servant, you knew that I reap where I sowed not, and gather where I have not strawed. You ought therefore to have put my money to the exchangers, and then at my coming I should have received my own with usury. Take therefore the talent from him, and give it unto him which hath ten talent”, and in chapter twenty-five and verse twenty-nine of his book, Matthew writes how Jesus said, “for unto every one that has shall be given … but from him that has not shall be taken away” where we read:
For unto every one that has shall be given, and he shall have abundance:
but from him that has not shall be taken away even that which he has.
The verse reads, “For unto every one that has shall be given, and he shall have abundance: ” Matthew began with Jesus' word, “for” which means “because, since and on account that” “unto every one” or “to each, all, the whole and every person” “that has” which means “who holds, owns and possesses” “shall be given” or “will be bestowed, granted, furnished and supplied”, “and he shall have abundance” which means “and the one who has will obtain overflowing, exceeding and above a fixed number of measure”. Matthew shared how Jesus declared that every person who “owns, holds and possesses” will obtain “exceeding more” than he or she already has.
The verse continues, “... but from him that has not shall be taken away even that which he has.” Matthew added Jesus' word, “but” which means “nevertheless, moreover and” “from him that has not” or “away from and separate from the person who does not own, hold or possess” “shall be taken away” which means “will be drawn away, borne apart and carried off” “even that which he has” or “also and indeed that which the person owns, holds or possesses”. Matthew shared how Jesus warned people who do not “own, possess or hold” will lose that anything else they “own, possess and hold”.
When we meditate upon Matthew's words in this verse, we see a dire warning from Jesus concerning the “gifts” God has given to people. If a person uses their “strengths and abilities” in a manner that is pleasing to God, He will reward them. However, if they abuse and neglect them because of fear, they shall have even that which they “possess” taken away from them. God has provided “salvation” through His Son Jesus Christ as the greatest “gift” the world shall ever know, and because He offers it to everyone, each person shall give an “account” for what they did with God's Son “Jesus”. In addition, the gifts God bestows are to be used to bless other people, be pleasing to God and to promote His Kingdom. Let all who read these words understand the word of the Lord Jesus and seek to comply with His direction in everything they do.
Next time Matthew writes how Jesus shares how the lord of the servant said, “cast the unprofitable servant into outer darkness”, so read ahead, and we shall join together then.
Until
tomorrow…there is more…
Look for the daily devotional book
“Equipped for Battle – From Generation to Generation”, the
marriage book “So, You Want to Be Married”, “One Year in the
Sermon on the Mount” and the new poetry book "Random Mushrooms
Volumes I and II" and the new novel "Elizabeth County"
in all major bookstore sites, http://www.amazon.com
; http://www.barnesandnobles.com
; download to e-books, and find it locally at
www.mrzlc.com/bookstore.
No comments:
Post a Comment