IT’S NOT ABOUT YOU (Archives)

In the parable of the talents, I used to wonder why the master called the servant who hid his talent ‘wicked.’

Slothful? Yes. Fearful? I can understand…but ‘wicked’? That’s quite a stretch.

Then I heard someone give a slant on it, and I went, “Oh…I see!”

You see,
The kingdom structure is one of interdependence.

Let us imagine – using secular occupations – some citizens are doctors, a few are farmers, others are bricklayers etc.
The farmer feeds the hungry doctor, who in turn treats the sick carpenter, who then repairs the leaking roof of the trader…and on and on it goes.

Everyone has something to give.

Or more accurately, each of them has been given something – to give another.

Now, imagine you rush your convulsing child to the hospital, and when the doctor on duty sees you, he goes into hiding because – in his own words – “I am afraid” or “I am shy.”

You really, really understand his insecurities, but you still plead with him to save your baby because he is already qualified.

Yet, he doesn’t, because…

…he is afraid.

So the infant dies.

What do you call that doctor? Wicked.

Why? After all, he was just insecure.

No, he was selfish. He was more concerned with his ‘feelings’ than with helping a dying child.

Unfortunately, a lot of us are sometimes ‘wicked.’

The Master gives each of us something – a word, a gift, a message, a talent – for another. We are a drowning man’s lifeline, a thirsty traveler’s oasis, a dark city’s lamp…

But we are so concerned with ‘ME’, we withhold the lifeline, stop the oasis with sand, and hide the lamp under a bushel – using a myriad of reasons:

“I am…not worthy.”
Newsflash: No one is.

“I am…afraid.”
So were Moses and other heroes of faith – yet they stepped out anyway.

“I am…shy.”
Same as above.

“I am…scared of being seen as a fraud.”
Well, are you?
A: No, of course not! (So, what’s the issue?)
B: Yes, I am. (Then, repent and change.)

“I am…worried about what people will think.”
Why care?!

“I am…”

Stop it. Let’s just stop it.

The I AM Himself is weary of hearing us couch self-centeredness and self-absorption beneath flimsy excuses of humility and fear.

He wants us to get over this obsessive fixation with ‘ME’ – and just give.

He says, “Your purpose is bigger than ‘you.’ Take your eyes off ‘you.’

It is NOT about YOU.”

(Do you have a prayer request? Send it in. We will DEFINITELY be praying.)

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