Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves have received from God. For just as the sufferings of Christ flow over into our lives, so also through Christ our comfort overflows (2 Corinthians 1:3-5).
Once there was a landowner who decided to go on a long journey. He called three of his servants together and divided up their responsibilities, each according to his own ability. He also entrusted them with a certain amount of money to oversee. The money was weighed out in what he called "talents." To one servant he gave five talents, to one servant he gave two talents, and to the other he gave one talent.
After many months, the master returned and met with the servants to settle their accounts. The servant who had been given five talents had immediately invested the money and doubled his profits - giving the master back ten talents. The servant with two talents had invested his money and doubled his as well - giving the master back four talents. To both of these the Master said, "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!"
But then there was the servant with the one talent. He was a fearful and lazy man who didn't want to take a chance. He didn't invest the money at all, but rather dug a hole in the ground and hid his talent in the dirt. ""Master," he said as he made up excuses, "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 talent in the ground. See, here is what belongs to you."
The Master was furious with the fearful servant. He took the one talent and gave it to the one with ten who had invested well.
Has God given you "talents" that He expects you to invest? One such "talent" may be life experiences such as a trial or struggle that you have overcome. Perhaps God now wants you to use that experience to comfort others in a similar situation with what you have learned.
In Second Corinthians, Paul wrote: "Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves have received from God. For just as the sufferings of Christ flow over into our lives, so also through Christ our comfort overflows" (2 Corinthians 1:3-5). God does not comfort us simply to make us comfortable. God comforts us to make us comfort-able...able to comfort other people.
Take an inventory of your life and ask God what life experiences He would like for you to invest in others.
Let's Pray
Dear Lord, please show me if I have been hiding my "talent" rather than investing in others. Your Word tells me that I have been given spiritual gifts...am I hiding them? Your Word tells me that I have been "blessed with every spiritual blessing." Am I investing those blessings or hording them to myself? Open my eyes to the gifts and talents you have given me and direct me in the way to invest in others.
In Jesus' Name,
Amen.
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