I’m not a parent, but I’ve been working with kids for over 15 years. I have to say I’ve learned many things. The thing that I’ve known, but never really had words to explain is that “Fair doesn’t mean equal.”
Any parent with multiple children will tell you that they don’t treat all their kids the same. Does that mean they’re not fair? No. All kids are different; and so, in order to treat them fairly they need to be treated differently.
As a child and teenager whenever I heard the story of the talents in the Bible I thought, “That’s not fair.”
Matthew 25:14-30 – The master is going on a long journey and so he gives the first servant five talents, the second servant he gives two talents, and the third servant he gives one talent. This is where I think; well he doesn’t really give them all an equal shot, why doesn’t he give them all the same amount. Then let them prove themselves.
On his return he calls his servants for them to give him a report. The first comes and says, “Master, you gave me 5 talents, Look here are 5 more.” The Master says, “Well done you were faithful over a few things, I will put you in charge of many.”
The second comes and says, “Master, you gave me two talents, Look here is two more” The Master says, “Well done you were faithful over a few things, I will put you in charge of many.” The master says the exact same thing to the first two servants.
Finally, the third servant comes in, I can almost see him gravelling. He says, “Master I know you are a hard man, reaping where you have not sown, and gathering where you have not scattered seed, and I was afraid so I went off and hid your talent in the ground, here here’s the talent you gave me.” I always felt bad for the last servant. You can almost feel his fear. He knows His master is a harsh man. And he proves it in his next lines, “You evil and lazy slave, you know I reap where I haven’t sewn and gather where I haven’t scattered, you should have at least taken it to the bank and deposited it, so that on my return I would’ve at least gotten it plus the interest. Take the one that he has give it to him with 10 and take this good-for nothing slave and throw him into outer darkness where there is weeping and gnashing of teeth.” Wow that’s harsh! I always thought, really was that necessary, I mean so he messed up, don’t we all mess up. And he wasn’t given a fair shot.
But read vs. 15 – “to one he gave five talents; to another, two; and to another, one – each according to his ability.” The master was fair. He gave “each according to his ability.” The master knew what each of his servants could handle. He knew them and their abilities and gave to each of them accordingly.
Our Master knows us and knows our abilities and will not give us more than we can handle, positively or negatively. The Bible says that God knows our frame and that we are dust. He created us; He knows the stresses and pressures we can handle.
It’s a common cliché that God will not give us more than we can handle. Let me tell you, it’s true. God will not give us more problems than we can handle and He will not give us more success than we can handle. Less we should curse him in our problems, or become prideful in out successes; each with the same result: turning away from God.
I wonder what would have happened if the Master had given the first servant 100 talents or even 50. Would he still have been successful? I don’t know, the verse says the Master gave each according to his ability which means, He knew exactly how much they could each handle.
The Master has given you talents and abilities. The question is what will you do with them? Will you be faithful with the few talents that God has given you? Will you use them to increase his kingdom, like the first two servants? Or will you bury your talents and your head in the sand?
Instead of looking around and thinking, “Oh I wish I could do this or that.” Start by doing what you can. And then as you are faithful in those areas you will begin to grow and develop, then next thing you know you’ll hear yourself say, “If you had asked me a year ago I would’ve never thought I’d be here.” What happened? How did someone get to that point? They were faithful in the few, and God used them.
So I encourage you to serve God now, where you’re at. Don’t wait another day to begin. Don’t be the evil slave that says, “Well because I can’t do this or that I’m not useful.” Because God, the King, the Lord of Lords, the Creator of Heaven and Earth has given gifts and talents to each of us, don’t be like the lazy, ungrateful slave and hide the gift God has given you. Serve God with all you have, starting right where you’re at and let God multiply you!
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