You have probably read Jesus’ parable about the bags of gold in Matthew 25. (You can read the entire passage below.)
Three servants are given bags of gold. The first two servants double what they were given. But the 3rd servant met his master without earning anything.
“The bags of gold (Greek talanton) represent all the opportunities God gives people to serve Him, including their wealth, reputation, abilities, and learning. This parable warns believers to diligently take everything God has given and invest it for His glory as they await Christ’s second coming.” (David Jeremiah Bible Study Notes)
I want to direct your attention to the servant who was given 1 bag of gold. This is what he had to say when the master returned.
“Master,’ he said, ‘I knew that you are a hard man, harvesting where you have not sown and gathering where you have not scattered seed. So I was afraid and went out and hid your gold in the ground.” verses 23 & 24 (emphasis mine)
What jumped out at me today was that the man said “I was afraid.” Are you afraid to do what God has called you to do? The man in the parable didn’t trust his master. (I would venture to say he didn’t know his master or he would have trusted him.)
Sometimes it takes courage to do what God calls us to do. He has given us gifts and talents to bring Him glory. Do we trust Him?
Without courage, we may be tempted to bury our bag of gold in the ground because we are afraid. Courage comes when we know and trust Him.
Jesus said, “Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.” John 14:27 NIV (emphasis mine)
“Trust in the Lord with all your heart
and lean not on your own understanding;
in all your ways submit to him,
and he will make your paths straight.” Proverbs 3:5-6 NIV
“When I am afraid, I put my trust in you. In God, whose word I praise—
in God I trust and am not afraid.” Psalm 56:3-4 NIV
“So do not fear, for I am with you;
do not be dismayed, for I am your God.
I will strengthen you and help you;” Isaiah 41:10 NIV
The Parable of the Bags of Gold
14 “Again, it will be like a man going on a journey, who called his servants and entrusted his wealth to them. 15 To one he gave five bags of gold, to another two bags, and to another one bag,[a] each according to his ability. Then he went on his journey. 16 The man who had received five bags of gold went at once and put his money to work and gained five bags more. 17 So also, the one with two bags of gold gained two more. 18 But the man who had received one bag went off, dug a hole in the ground and hid his master’s money.
19 “After a long time the master of those servants returned and settled accounts with them. 20 The man who had received five bags of gold brought the other five. ‘Master,’ he said, ‘you entrusted me with five bags of gold. See, I have gained five more.’
21 “His master replied, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master’s happiness!’
22 “The man with two bags of gold also came. ‘Master,’ he said, ‘you entrusted me with two bags of gold; see, I have gained two more.’
23 “His master replied, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master’s happiness!’
24 “Then the man who had received one bag of gold came. ‘Master,’ he said, ‘I knew that you are a hard man, harvesting where you have not sown and gathering where you have not scattered seed. 25 So I was afraid and went out and hid your gold in the ground. See, here is what belongs to you.’
26 “His master replied, ‘You wicked, lazy servant! So you knew that I harvest where I have not sown and gather where I have not scattered seed? 27 Well then, you should have put my money on deposit with the bankers, so that when I returned I would have received it back with interest.
28 “‘So take the bag of gold from him and give it to the one who has ten bags. 29 For whoever has will be given more, and they will have an abundance. Whoever does not have, even what they have will be taken from them. 30 And throw that worthless servant outside, into the darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.’ Matthew 25:14-30 NIV
Take Courage! Do not be afraid. Trust God to lead you and give you wisdom as you do everything He wants you to do.
In His Love, Cindy
Do you want to know more about Jesus? See my page Who Is Jesus?
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