Audacious -- Week 12
Read: Read Matthew 25: 14-30; (I believe you may want to read in the Message Version too)
Reflect: I’m sure you’ve read these verses many times in your life. Maybe you’ve read them so many times that you can’t understand why in the world I’d include them in a chapter like this one.
Several months ago, God reminded me of this passage of scripture and led me (I believe) down a different path toward understanding than I’d ever been before. Keep these points in mind:
Three different servants were given talents/resources to guard while the master was away. We aren’t told exactly what they were told to do with them. We’re just told they were entrusted with them.
When the master returned, the first and second had doubled their return by investing.
The third didn’t lose or gain, because his resources were buried in a hole in the ground.
That is what we KNOW. But, I also have some questions:
Why were they all given different amounts? What was it about the first two servants that caused the master to trust them with more from the beginning?
Is it possible that the first and second servants lost some of the original talents investing in more? I’m asking, because that’s generally how investment goes. Often, initial investment is lost or adjusted in trying to make more. Some lessons just have to be learned the hard way.
The final servant didn’t invest because of what he knew about the Master. But, did he really know these things? It seems he was wrong, because the first and second didn’t know the master in the same way. How did he have such a different (& negative) relationship with the Master?
Respond: Ladies, I want to be in front of you while we have this conversation! I know it’s going to carry on too long. But, please think with me! How many times have I missed an opportunity to put myself out there, share love with someone, or live effectively for the Gospel, because I wasn’t sure I heard or understood correctly?
How often have I been so afraid to make a wrong move that I made no move at all?
And, how many times did this look to God like me burying my resources in the ground simply because I knew my master to be a hard man?
What about you?
Audacity may lead us to mistakes! Boldness might land us in need of a restart. Humiliation could be just around the corner. And, we’ve got to decide if abundant life in Christ is worth it. Read this portion of our scripture in The Message Version,
The master was furious. “That’s a terrible way to live! It’s criminal to live cautiously like that! If you knew I was after the best, why did you do less than the least? The least you could have done would have been to invest the sum with the bankers, where at least I would have gotten a little interest. Take the thousand and give it to the one who risked the most. And get rid of this ‘play-it-safe’ who won’t go out on a limb. Throw him out into utter darkness.”
Faith involves risk! Are you ready? Today, let’s write about the obstacles that lead you to be a “play-it-safe?”
Renew: I can’t think of anything we can do to renew our mindset today other than to ask God for help. We need His guidance, His discernment, and His wisdom if we are going to audaciously live. Since we can’t do anything to earn or deserve these things, I say we simply ask Him for it. So, hit your knees, bow your head, or write out your prayer. It doesn’t matter how. But, if revival is to come, we’ve got to be willing to do our risky part.
“I would rather err trying to obey God than play it safe and quench His Spirit.” (Audacious, page 164)
Me too, Ms. Beth, me too!!!
