We are required build on our talents with the express purpose of building up the Kingdom of God on the earth.
Matthew 25 : 14-30 KJV
14 ¶ For the kingdom of heaven is as a man travelling into a far country, who called his own servants, and delivered unto them his goods.
15 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.
16 Then he that had received the five talents went and traded with the same, and made them other five talents.
17 And likewise he that had received two, he also gained other two.
18 But he that had received one went and digged in the earth, and hid his lord’s money.
19 After a long time the lord of those servants cometh, and reckoneth with them.
20 And so he that had received five talents came and brought other five talents, saying, Lord, thou deliveredst unto me five talents: behold, I have gained beside them five talents more.
21 His lord said unto him, Well done, thou good and faithful servant: thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord.
22 He also that had received two talents came and said, Lord, thou deliveredst unto me two talents: behold, I have gained two other talents beside them.
23 His lord said unto him, Well done, good and faithful servant; thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord.
24 Then he which had received the one talent came and said, Lord, I knew thee that thou art an hard man, reaping where thou hast not sown, and gathering where thou hast not strawed:
25 And I was afraid, and went and hid thy talent in the earth: lo, there thou hast that is thine.
26 His lord answered and said unto him, Thou wicked and slothful servant, thou knewest that I reap where I sowed not, and gather where I have not strawed:
27 Thou oughtest therefore to have put my money to the exchangers, and then at my coming I should have received mine own with usery.
28 Take therefore the talent from him, and give it unto him which hath ten talents.
29 For unto every one that hath shall be given, and he shall have abundance: but from him that hath not shall be taken away even that which he hath.
30 And cast ye the unprofitable servant into outer darkness: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.
One thing about parables is that they can have multiple meanings – multiple applications. But the underlying message Jesus is giving here is that we cannot sit around and waste our time away. We must be engaged in using our God given talents and build up his kingdom. Failure to do so is likely to result in your expulsion from the Kingdom of God.
There is No Such Thing as Cheap Grace
When I was in the military, a well known pilot came to the 82d Airborne Division and conducted a prayer breakfast. And he taught a sermon teaching all those who had not accepted Christ in their life to say a prayer along with him. And in the prayer he was speaking the words for each individual that they would accept Jesus as their Savior and they would henceforth be saved.
I had heard that prayer before. I had heard it preached and used many times. What is good about it is that it gives the participant an opportunity to feel the light of Christ and jump on the path to salvation in the Kingdom of God. However, I do worry that the way it is done may lead to a false hope. If the participant says the prayer one time, and now they believe they are saved, they may take no further action. They may bury their talent.
Acts 2: 38 KJV
Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.
Our new converted friend may not really be saved if they do not follow through with the rest of the teachings of Jesus. If they bury their talent, they will be cast out and spend their time in Outer Darkness (a period of time in the spirit world), with weeping and gnashing of teeth (Matthew 15:30).
The first four principles of the gospel are listed below.
- We must have faith is Jesus Christ
- We must then repent or change ourselves turning towards God.
- We must receive of the ordinance of baptism.
- We may then receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.
But even these principles may not be enough if we do not endure to the end. If we do not continue on the path, we shall still be cast out. We must develop our talents to build the Kingdom of God. So after we are baptized, we must endure to the end.
How do we endure to the end? We must do the following:
- We must have faith in Jesus Christ.
- This faith will lead us to repent, to change and become more like Jesus.
- Then we need to partake of the ordinances such as the sacrament.
- These three things allow us to have the guidance of the Holy Ghost to lead us to righteous living.
- And then we continue to endure to the end.
- We must have faith in Jesus Christ.
- This faith will lead us to repent, to change and become more like Jesus.
- Then we need to partake of the ordinances such as the sacrament.
- These three things allow us to have the guidance of the Holy Ghost to lead us to righteous living.
- And then we continue to endure to the end……..by going back to item 1, continually.