Do you consider your ministry small and insignificant? God doesn’t! I encourage you to press on in your service to the Lord. Do not let the enemy discourage you! Trust the Lord to lead you and guide you. He who promised is faithful!
In the following parable, “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)
Read the passage below and ask yourself, “What have I done with my bag(s) of gold?
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
Maybe you think you have been given only one bag of gold. For example, maybe you write a blog and don’t have many views. Or maybe you teach Sunday School to children, or your ministry is visiting the nursing home.
Maybe the enemy tries to deceive you into thinking your small ministry isn’t important. He wants you to give up (bury it). The enemy will try to make you afraid and quit. “I was afraid and went out and hid your gold in the ground.” (v.25)
Don’t hide your bag of gold in the ground! Just one bag of gold was worth, 20 years wages! Your “small” ministry is valuable to God!
(a) Matthew 25:15 Greek five talents … two talents … one talent; also throughout this parable; a talent was worth about 20 years of a day laborer’s wage.
Every time you speak or write God’s Word from the Bible, you are engaged in spiritual warfare. That’s right!
“The sword of the Spirit … is the Word of God.” Ephesians 6:17
Speaking TRUTH is spiritual warfare. Fight on!
In His Love, Cindy
Do you want to know more about Jesus? See my page Who Is Jesus?
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