Using Our Talents
Using Our Talents
For whoever has will be given more (talents), and they will have an abundance. Whoever does not have, even what they have will be taken from them. (Matthew 25:29)
I do not know if I ever heard anyone explain what the talents of gold represent, that are mentioned in the twenty-fifth chapter of the Book of Matthew.
If we think about it, the parable of the talents is referring to the Lord's servants. In fact, all of the Bible is about the Lord's servants. The Bible is not written to the world, except possibly Proverbs and Ecclesiastes, which appear to apply as much to the world as they do to God's people. Certainly the New Testament is directed toward God's family.
The term "talent" is applied by people of the world to music, art, athletics, and so forth. I do not believe these definitions are what is meant here. I think Christ is referring to the portion of Himself that is given to a member of His elect, His Body. "Talents" refer to gold; and "gold" in the Scriptures typifies Divinity.
It also could represent special ministries, gifts, or abilities given to the believer by the Spirit of God. In this case, he or she must be absolutely conscientious and diligent in the employment of them.
There is a parallel, I believe, in the thirteenth chapter of the Book of Matthew. I am referring to the thirtyfold, sixtyfold, and hundredfold. I used to think these were three different sets of people. I am leaning now to the understanding that these are three stages in the pursuit of the fullness of victory in Christ.
When we look about us in Christendom we can see that some people have been given a greater portion of Christ than is true of others. I am thinking now of Lawrence of the Resurrection, commonly known as "Brother Lawrence." He was moved to invite Christ into every aspect of his life.
"The time of business does not differ with me from the time of prayer; and in the noise and clatter of my kitchen, while several persons are at the same time calling for different things, I possess God in as great tranquility as if I were on my knees."
I think of the practice of bringing Christ into every aspect of life as "living by the Life of Christ." Jesus always is knocking at the door of our personality, seeking entrance. He desires to dine on our worship and obedience and we on His body and blood.
The Apostle Paul said the same thing: "I am crucified with Christ. Nevertheless I live. Yet it is not I but Christ who is living in me."
I am certain it was Paul's intention that Christ be living in him at all times in every situation, just as this is to be our intention.
So it is not a case of running here or going there. Rather we are to open the door and invite Christ into all we are doing. How often are we to do this? As often as we think of it during the day and night.
It appears to me that Brother Lawrence was given "ten talents" to begin with. He had such a zeal for Christ!
But not everyone is given such a passion for Jesus. Perhaps David Brainerd was.
But Christ is determined to profit from the individual who is given even the smallest portion of Himself.
Whether we are given ten talents or one talent, we are to apply what we have been given to pursuing more of Christ. The thirtyfold is to advance to the sixtyfold. The sixtyfold is to advance to the hundredfold.
Now here is the issue: If we have been given a portion of Christ, and do not multiply it, we will suffer for it when we appear before Christ. And every one of us will appear before Christ some day!
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. And throw that worthless servant outside, into the darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth. (Matthew 25:28-30)
I have an impression of the spirit world. It is an exceedingly vast area. It is divided into the Land of Light and the Land of Darkness. The Land of Darkness is in several parts, the lowest region being Hell.
In one corner of the Land of Light there is an elevated area, a high hill with a plateau on top. On this plateau there is a great city, the heavenly Jerusalem.
But you have come to Mount Zion, to the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem. You have come to thousands upon thousands of angels in joyful assembly, to the church of the firstborn, whose names are written in heaven. You have come to God, the Judge of all, to the spirits of the righteous made perfect. (Hebrews 12:22,23)
This city is what we mean by "Heaven." It is the home of God's elect, the members of the Royal Priesthood.
When an individual truly receives Christ, he or she is raised spiritually to the right hand of God in Christ. His or her home is in the heavenly Zion---for this is where God and Christ are.
Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things. For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God. (Colossians 3:1-3)
Notice carefully the tense of the verbs.
You have come to Mount Zion.
You have come to thousands upon thousands of angels.
You have come to God.
You have been raised with Christ.
Your life is now hidden with Christ in God.
These facts are true currently of every person who is "in Christ."
Now you can see how important it is that we keep on seeking to live by the Life of Christ. As we do, the portion of Christ that was given to us keeps on being increased. We pass from the thirtyfold to the sixtyfold, so to speak.
As Christ increases in us, and we become more proficient in inviting Christ into our daily life, His Presence around us increases noticeably. The result is, those who are close to us and those who hear us will themselves become more conscious of their need for Christ. Such is the "interest" the Master is looking for.
But what instead of seeking more of Christ each day we "bury our talent"? What if we make an initial profession of Christ and then go about our daily business without making a sincere attempt to invite Christ into our life, or to find our gifts and use them? In this case, the Divine life in us is like yesterday's manna. There is no fresh Divine "water" flowing into it and keeping it fresh.
When we stand before Christ, instead of bringing with us an increased measure of Himself, and other people who have received Christ, there will be nothing but a bad odor coming from us.
Now we will be removed from the heavenly Jerusalem, from all else of the Land of Light, and assigned to one of the stations of the Land of Darkness. We have incurred the wrath of Christ.
Also, the Divine Life we had been given previously swill be given to another.
Here is the saying fulfilled: "That which has been given to us is removed and given to another who has been more diligent." Now we have nothing of God, and the diligent individual has more than ever.
Our rulership in the Kingdom of God has been removed. The faithful person has more authority and power than ever.
In the Land of Light there are multitudes of people who are not in the heavenly Zion. They are not of God's elect, of the Royal Priesthood. But they are the decent people of the nations who obey Christ when He is presented to them.
Now notice: when a member of the elect does not use his or her talents so as to bring profit to Christ, the individual does not go from the heavenly Zion to the Land of Light but to the Land of Darkness.
Why is this? It is because to whom much is given, of him or her shall much be required. The Lord's priests who disobey God are treated more harshly than are other people. Notice what happened to Eli and his two sons, Hophni and Phinehas.
If we are a sincere Christian, we will be judged more carefully than is true of people who are not of God's elect. Consider the afflictions of Job!
You know, we have been given poisoned water. We have been told that if we "accept Christ" on some occasion, our worries are over. No matter how we live after that, our crown cannot be taken from us. When we die we will hear "Well done, good and faithful servant," and be taken to our mansion in Paradise where we will have no responsibilities for eternity.
Such is the disastrous teaching so widespread in America today.
There was a large church in Sardis. It had a reputation for being alive, which means it was growing in numbers.
But look what Jesus said about that congregation:
Thou hast a few names even in Sardis which have not defiled their garments; and they shall walk with me in white: for they are worthy. (Revelation 3:4)
"Have not defiled their garments" means they have confessed their sins to the Lord and with His assistance have turned away from them.
The heavenly Jerusalem is the home of the Royal Priesthood. When Jesus said only a few of the large congregation in Sardis would walk with Him in white, He means only a few would remain in the Royal Priesthood, in the heavenly Jerusalem.
This reminds us of what Jesus said about attaining to His resurrection Life. The Lord said, "Narrow is the way that leads to Life and few find it."
The problem here is, we have been taught that if we "accept Christ" we have found Life. Often this is true. But "accept Christ" is not a scriptural expression. It is an unscriptural religious formality.
Rather, we are to "receive Christ." We are to receive Him every day. Otherwise the water of eternal Life becomes stagnant, "breeds worms" like yesterday's manna, and stinks.
There are many "believers" who "accepted Christ" years ago, and now are not refreshing to be near.
Then too, consider the Lord's servant who buried the Divine gold he had been given. He was removed from the heavenly Jerusalem and cast into one of the stations of the Land of Darkness.
Paul teaches us in the Book of Romans that if we live according to our sinful nature, we will die spiritually. This means our mortal body will not be filled with the Spirit of God in the Day of Resurrection.
Also, please consider the following admonition:
I am coming soon. Hold on to what you have, so that no one will take your crown. (Revelation 3:11)
Is it possible to once have the crown of righteousness and life and then have someone take it from us? It certainly sounds like it, doesn't it?
The present teaching is that we are to "accept" Christ, and then we never can lose our place in Christ.
But the exhortation to Sardis about keeping our conduct free from sin; and the warning concerning not using the Divine gold that has been given to us; finally the caution about guarding our crown; should suffice for the intellectually honest person to conclude that we must work out our salvation with fear and trembling if we don't want to lose it!
"Accepting Christ" usually is just a dead religious gesture, although it can represent a true receiving of Christ and be followed by a faithful life.
We are to receive Christ. Not just once, but often throughout every day and night. He continually is knocking, asking for increased entrance into our daily behavior and decisions. We continually are to be opening and learning to live by His Life. His Life is His body and blood that are given to us whenever we choose to obey God rather than to yield to the promptings of our sinful nature.
Let's now decide to emulate Brother Lawrence and the Apostle Paul, setting aside our own plans and ambitions, and look to the Lord Jesus for all we think, say, and do. Let us "practice the Presence of God" at all times.
Living by the Life of Jesus is going to make the difference between survival and destruction in the days of chaos that are ahead of us in America.
The angel of the Lord encamps around those who fear him, and he delivers them. (Psalms 34:7)