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| [Image by K. Kenny on Flickr] |
God has been so faithful, and you know what happens when He blesses us with more gifts? We seem to get busy.
As I type this, my mind is fast drifting toward the parable of the talents. You see, the essence of a profitable man does not just creep upon him in a day. After all, Rome wasn't built in a day. Rather, this embodiment of character is ingrained slowly, built upon rock by rock, day after day, such that after a while it becomes a solid trait that sticks permanently like glue.
However, there's SO MUCH MORE about this man! This faithful servant does not abandon his previous gifts or tasks. He only adds value to them. The reason he is blessed with more is not because of investments he is planning to make in the future, but because of his first investment (which can be called his "baby"). The first time he laid his hand to do work. The first major decision he ever made. The first time he decided to be faithful to God. These are the investments that make up his foundation in life. In the same vein, the Light-A-Lamp Blog is my baby. It's one of my first investments in being faithful to God. It's the tool by which my Father daily teaches me about the principle of "consistency." So no matter what big gifts are coming my way this year, I plan to, like the faithful servant, build upon my first foundation and remain faithful.
"For the kingdom of heaven is like a man traveling to a far country, who called his own servants and delivered his goods to them. And to one he gave five talents, to another two, and to another one, to each according to his own ability; and immediately he went on a journey." (Matthew 25:14, 15 NKJV)
I have read this scripture several times before, and yet only a few weeks ago, the Holy Spirit gave me an important additional insight that I've missed before.
Did you see the phrase "to each according to his own ability?" Every action the owner of the house took was based upon statistics, not partiality. When he realized he was traveling to a far country, he checked the previous statistics of each servant based upon what they've been able to handle in the past and he discovered the following: Mr. A was recorded in the accounting books as the one who'd been the most efficient in his trading, Mr. B was doing okay (he'd made some bad decisions but always managed to bounce back) and Mrs. C had not shown any signs of improvement. So he gave A ten talents, B five, and C one.
Did you see the phrase "to each according to his own ability?" Every action the owner of the house took was based upon statistics, not partiality. When he realized he was traveling to a far country, he checked the previous statistics of each servant based upon what they've been able to handle in the past and he discovered the following: Mr. A was recorded in the accounting books as the one who'd been the most efficient in his trading, Mr. B was doing okay (he'd made some bad decisions but always managed to bounce back) and Mrs. C had not shown any signs of improvement. So he gave A ten talents, B five, and C one.
According to each one's ability...
And yet again, the statistics proved to be accurate as a measure for the future potential.
"Then he who had received the five talents went and traded with them, and made another five talents. And likewise he who had received two gained two more also. But he who had received one went and dug in the ground, and hid his lords money."(Matthew 25:16-18 NKJV)
Statistics don't lie. What have you done with the little you have? What do you have in your hand right now? The essence of a profitable man begins early in life. It begins right now, as you stare at these words. It begins the minute you lay your hands upon a new project. It is not obtained via sudden lottery wins or happenstance. It is a product of our continuous hard work. Our constant dedication to seeing creativity come to fruition and not giving up when it seems results are not showing...yet.
THE LESSON FROM THIS POST: New projects only build upon old investments. Therefore, in a purposeful effort to build upon my past work, I will start a new project.
In the next few months, I'll be studying the Bible in a chronological fashion via a study on Youversion. As I begin this new project, I will stumble upon light bulb moments, and I will be documenting those special discoveries I make here on the Lamp Blog on Mondays and Thursdays. I hope you will join me as I embark upon....the start of something grand....
