Day Six
Thrifty - Laborious
Proverbs 31:14...She is like the merchant ships loaded with foodstuffs; she brings her household's food from a far [country]...
For the last several weeks, we have been looking at the attributes of the Proverbs 31 woman and how it relates to us today. In the verses we have read so far, we see a woman who was talented in many areas, and used those talents for the benefit of others. But there is a theme that is woven throughout the whole Proverbs 31 message that we will continue to see, and it speaks of laboring. Almost every verse points out an activity...she comforts...she seeks out wool...she rises...she considers...she girds herself up...she tastes...she lays her hand to the spindle...she makes fine linen garments...and so on. She is not idle, but actively labors in her God given talent and task. So, what message is there for us in her laboring? In Matthew 25:14-30, Jesus speaks a parable...
"Again, it will be like a man going on a journey, who called his servants and entrusted his property to them. To one he gave five talents of money, to another two talents, and to another one talent, each according to his ability. Then he went on his journey. The man who had received the five talents went at once and put his money to work and gained five more. So, also, the one with the two talents gained two more. But the man who had received the one talent went off, dug a hold 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 the five talents brought the other five. 'Master', he said, 'you entrusted me with five talents. 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 the two talents also came, 'Master', he said, 'you entrusted me with two talents; 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 the one talent 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 talent 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.
"Take the talent from him and give it to the one who has the ten talents. For everyone who has will be given more, and he will have an abundance. Whoever does not have, even what he has will be taken from him. And throw that worthless servant outside, into the darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.' (New International Version).
This is the parable of the talents and the slothful servant. We read that talents were given to three men; two went out and doubled their talents, the other hid his because he was afraid. The Matthew Henry Study Bible says the following regarding the talents...""We may apply it for the gifts of the Spirit. He that has these, and does good with them, shall have abundance; these gifts improve by exercise, brighten by being used; but those who stir not up the gift that is in them who do not exact themselves according to their capacity, their gifts rust and decay, and go out like a neglected fire."
God gives each and everyone of us a talent or gift. The book of Romans, chapter 12, verses 4-6a says...for as in one physical body we have many parts (organs, members) and all of these parts do not have the same function or use...so we, numerous as we are, are one body in Christ (the Messiah) and individually we are parts one of another [mutually dependent on one another...having gifts (faculties, talents, qualities) that differ according to the grace given us, let us use them. If you read a little further in this chapter, it speaks of the different gifts, of prophecy or practical service, exhorting, contributing money, organizing, etc., just to name a few. And interestingly enough, what we may think of as just a hobby, may, in fact, turn out to be a needed talent. Over this past summer, while working on a quilt, the Lord specifically told me to start making quilts and He would bring opportunities to give them away. I thought, quilts? The Lord leads me to do many things, pray for people, speak a message, write, etc., but quilting? And while I am currently finishing a quilt for myself, He is leading me to share this 'gift' with others. At present, plans have been made to start dispensing quilts, as they are finished, to the homeless. And we are beginning to get people lined up to give them to. I don't know if they will always be for the homeless, but that is where we are starting.
Over the last several years, Paul and I have encountered some very gifted people. We have met musicians, evangelists, teachers, organizers, intercessors, singers, pastors, gifted speakers and so forth, all with varied and diverse gifts. And one of the saddest things to observe are those who do not walk in what God has gifted them with, those who use their talents with arrogance and superiority, and those who have taken their gifts and made the focal point 'them'. If we use our talents in any of these ways, we have missed God's perfect will. The books of Isaiah and Ezekiel give account of the fall of Lucifer (satan), who was created beautiful and talented. But he became full of pride and tried to exalt himself above God. That was literally, self focus. Today, one of the traps that he uses to try to ensnare us with is continual self focus. Through self focus, we end up walking in arrogance, pride, insecurities, self pity, fear, or many other types of inward struggles, which usually leads to either abusing or neglecting our talents.
Another problematic area is that of comparison. How many times are we going to compare ourselves with others before we realize that God made us who we are - looks, basic body frame, talents, interests and personalities? Some people are quiet and shy, some are serious and very intense, and others are outgoing, boisterous and fun loving. One is not above the other, just different. The same applies to talents or gifts. Some gifts are service gifts, some are singing or musical gifts, some are speaking gifts, some are prayers gifts, and so on. But, we allow ourselves to be influenced by society that compares wealth, looks, skills and even skin color as a gauge of importance. And because we allow ourselves to be influenced, our focal point changes from God and what He has given and called us to do, to self focused insecurities, fear, arrogance, pride and measuring ourselves against others. And the instant when our focus turns inward, in any number of ways, we become as the slothful servant, who hid his talent.
Self focus produces vain labor. And what a sad state that is, because here is the reality - it is never just about us, but about those around us who are affected by our walks. However, if our focus is God and obedience, we will labor, producing much fruit. The Truth is, the society that we live in is not our plumb line; gauging ourselves by others is not our plumb line; God and the Truth of His Word is our plumb line!
As we walk in obedience to His call, laboring to the best of our ability with what He has given us, we will hear the Master say..."Well done, thou 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...".
1 Corinthians 15:58...Therefore my beloved brethren, be firm (steadfast), immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord [always being superior, excelling, doing more than enough in the service of the Lord], knowing and being continually aware that your labor is not futile [it is never wasted or to no purpose].
A hearts' cry...Father, teach me to be a good steward with the talents You have entrusted to me...