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To the Heart of the Matter

God cares about your heart. It’s an eternal matter!

He doesn’t care so much about how you look, how talented you are, if people are following you, how popular you are, how tall you are, how small you are, how much money you have, what your career is, or what your title is.

He cares about where your heart is.

I read Matthew 25 recently. In it is the parable of the talents. If you don’t know the story, here are a few scriptures from it.

““After a long time the master of those slaves came and settled accounts with them. The man who had received five talents approached, presented five more talents, and said, ‘Master, you gave me five talents. Look, I’ve earned five more talents.’ “His master said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful slave! You were faithful over a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Share your master’s joy! ’ “Then the man with two talents also approached. He said, ‘Master, you gave me two talents. Look, I’ve earned two more talents.’ “His master said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful slave! You were faithful over a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Share your master’s joy! ’”
‭‭Matthew‬ ‭25:19-23‬ ‭HCSB‬‬

He had given 3 slaves some money/resources. The one he gave 5 talents to doubled his. The one he gave 2 talents to doubled his.

If the third slave, which he gave 1 talent to, would have doubled his, the master would have said those same words, “Well done, good and faithful slave…”

But the third slave with one talent didn’t do good. He said…

“So I was afraid and went off and hid your talent in the ground. Look, you have what is yours.’”
‭‭Matthew‬ ‭25:25‬ ‭HCSB

The third slave acted on fear. He was afraid. Even if he had tried and lost, I think he would have been better off. But he was afraid and so he reacted in fearful ways.

God says:

“Wait for the Lord; be strong and courageous. Wait for the Lord.”
‭‭Psalms‬ ‭27:14‬ ‭HCSB‬‬ “Haven’t I commanded you: be strong and courageous? Do not be afraid or discouraged, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.””
‭‭Joshua‬ ‭1:9‬ ‭HCSB‬‬ “For God has not given us a spirit of fearfulness, but one of power, love, and sound judgment.”
‭‭2 Timothy‬ ‭1:7‬ ‭HCSB‬‬

Back to the parable of the talents, the Bible says:

“For to everyone who has, more will be given, and he will have more than enough. But from the one who does not have, even what he has will be taken away from him.”
‭‭Matthew‬ ‭25:29‬ ‭HCSB‬‬

In your heart, do you feel you always need more and want more? Do you have so little you are afraid to use it so you hold onto it tightly or bury it? If so, you are one who does not have.

We must not compare our situation with others and continually feel like we have little.

On the other hand, if you have Jesus, you have all you need. You don’t need to live in fear.

There are other lessons and more wisdom to pull out of this parable that tells us what the Kingdom of God is like. One is to not just sit on what God has given you but do your part. Don’t just leave things 100% in the Masters hands. Work hard. Try hard. Do good. Have faith. Serve well. Be faithful. Trust Him. Do it well. Take what you have and use it for growth. Be productive!

“For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.”
‭‭Matthew‬ ‭6:21‬ ‭HCSB‬‬

Where is your treasure? Have you buried it? Have you hidden your light from the world? Are you hiding it under a bushel so others can’t see it?

Or are you taking your treasure out in courage and using it to be productive? Are you using your treasure to grow and produce the Kingdom of God in this earth? Your treasure God has given you is love, grace, mercy, joy, and so much more.

Just like the master was gone for “a long time” so Jesus has been gone for some time. He will return soon. I hope you won’t have spent your life with nothing, always grasping for more, never giving, never sewing, loving little to none.

Do you let fear keep you from trying?

Are you generous? Do you sew seed. Do you invest your life and your talents and try hard at life, work, faith, love, joy? Do you realize that you have much; much to give, much to see, much to pray, much to do?

Be faithful. Be encouraged. Put your life to work and live for the Lord.

May your treasure be him. Then you will have, be given more and will have more than enough.

Don’t bury your talents in fear.

Live productively. You have much!

Intend to Live