One man gives freely yet gains even more. Another withholds unduly but comes to poverty. ~Proverbs 11: 24
Again, it will be like a man going on a journey, who called his servants and entrusted his wealth to them. 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. The man who had received five bags of gold went at once and put his money to work and gained five bags more. So also, the one with two bags of gold gained two more. But the man who had received one bag went off, dug a hole in the ground and hid his master’s money.
After a long time, the master of those servants returned and settled accounts with them. 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.’ 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!’
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.’ 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!’
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. So I was afraid and went out and hid your gold in the ground. See, here is what belongs to you.’ 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? 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. So take the bag of gold from him and give it to the one who has ten bags. 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. ~Matthew 11:14-28
Do any of you remember this song?
Love is something if you give it away…You end up having more. It’s just like a magic penny. Hold on tight and you won’t have any. Let it go and you’ll have so many they’ll roll all over the floor!
Isn’t it interesting that seems to be the way it works? Generous people are always coming across opportunities to bless others. Just like our Father in Heaven is also looking for opportunities to bless. Misers and stingy people who need to hold on tightly to what they have because they think that is where their security lies, are missing out on what they could experience in the joy of giving.
To be clear here, we’re not talking about the kind of giving that the Prodigal son was doing, trying to by friends and gain position. That type of giving usually ends up where he ended up, in the pig pen with nothing to show for his efforts. He wasn’t giving to bless. He was giving for selfish reasons.
We’re talking about people who just enjoy seeing a need, or an opportunity, and being generous because it is in their hearts to give. So, how does the parable fit in with this proverb?
I can understand if you are tempted to say, “Well, it doesn’t, not exactly.” I suppose that, in a way, you would be correct. After all, these servants were about their master’s business, and they weren’t exactly giving anything away, they were investing, maybe even taking chances, with the resources that their master had entrusted to them. They were probably motivated partly at least, by the desire to receive praise from their master for a job well done.
Doesn’t that sound familiar? We’re entrusted with resources from our heavenly Master. How are we investing them? Aren’t we motivated a bit by wanting to hear our Master’s praise? How did Paul put it? “I have fought the fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. Now there is in store for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, will award to me on that day—and not only to me, but to all who have longed for His appearing.” (2 Tim. 4:7-8)
Jesus Himself mentions His Father’s comments of approval and disapproval in Matthew 25 when the King says to those who were kind and generous, “I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me.” (Matt. 25:40) While in contrast, to the ones who were not kind and generous the king will say: “I tell you the truth, whatever you did not do for one of the least of these, you did not do for Me.” (Matt 25:45) Can you hear echoes of the comments of disapproval from the master in the parable in the comments of the King?
It is true that we are not all gifted at the same level of ability. Jesus, the giver of gifts and abilities, demonstrates His understanding of that fact by showcasing three different servants at three different levels of ability in His parable. The first servant was a high achiever and did really well, as expected. The second, a more average person, still put forth effort, demonstrating good character and desire to do well with what he had been given, and the master was pleased that that servant had done his best.
The third servant is not given much but is not let off the hook either. He hid the little ability he had and just handed it back with an attitude sort of like the donkey, Eeyore, in “Whinny the Pooh.” “Here ya go. It wasn’t much to begin with, but at least I didn’t lose it.”
Our gifts and talents, no matter how great or small, are given to us for the Kingdom. Some of us will do great things that will be noticed by man and God. Others are pretty average. We won’t make a big dent in the annals of history, but if we pass on our faith and carry the torch to the next generation, we will have done well.
This is where the proverb for today fits in. “One man gives freely yet gains even more. Another withholds unduly but comes to poverty.” It goes back to the declaration that we made earlier this year that “we are blessed to be a blessing.” When we share what we have been given, spiritually and physically, we will be blessed even more. When we keep what we have, and what we know, to ourselves, we are the ones who will be impoverished and alone in the end.
We need to remember not to compare ourselves to others. We have each been given gifts and talents for a purpose for which we alone have been created. What we do won’t look like what others do. What matters is that we do it, small as it may be, for the Kingdom. We will be blessed by His praise when we do.
Prayer: Lord, the greatest treasure that I have to share is the gospel message itself that saves and forgives sins in sinners! Make me bold to share it with love and with compassionate concern for the lost. Put me to work so that I make a good return on Your investment in me. Help me to exhibit the fruits of the Spirit, so that my light is not hidden under a bushel but shines, for all the world to see You! In Jesus’ name, amen.
Song: Well Done
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