I think it is imperative that we understand that God expects us to do something with what He has given us. There are things that the Lord had entrusted us with and he desires a return on His investment. The word over your life is not something that will simply fulfill itself but something that you must work towards. I am not saying that the prophecy needs you to help it along. However, I am stating that the prophecy, the assignment, the word that God has entrusted you with does come with actions on your behalf. So, what are you doing with what God has given you?
Matthew 25:13-30 is a very familiar passage to those in the body of Christ. For those of you who do not know it, I will run it down for you very quickly. There was a master and he had three servants. Before he went on a journey, the master entrusted his property into the hands of his slaves. To one slave, he gave five talents. To the second slave, he gave two talents. And, to the last slave, he gave one talent. Now, in this instance, talent is not talking about something that you do well or a special gift. In the text, talent refers to a type of currency. In fact, a talent was the largest measurement of currency in those days. So, the master has disbursed large amounts of money according to each slave’s ability.
Straightaway, the first two slaves go and double what their master has given them. However, the slave who only received one talent digs a whole and hides his talent in the ground. When the master returned, he was exceedingly glad about the return gained by the first two slaves. He was not at all happy with the action of the third slave. When he’d come to the third slave regarding the talent that he’d given him, the third slave offered back the one talent. The first thing that came out of the slaves mouth was an excuse about why he’d not done anything with what he’d been given. The slave cited fear of the master as the reason why he’d not tried to get a return on the money that he’d been entrusted with. That answer didn’t fly with the master. The master asked the slave why didn’t he at least take the talent to the bank and let it gain some interest. Even with that, the master would have been increased upon his return. In the end, the master concluded that the slave was evil and lazy. So, he stripped the slave of the one talent that he’d been entrusted with and gave it to the other slave who now had ten. The lazy slave was cast into outer darkness.
Now, He has given each of us an assignment to fulfill according to our ability. This means that your assignment is based on what you’ve been built to handle. If you are like the man in the parable with one talent, it does not mean that you are any less significant in God’s plan. It just means that God desires for you to focus on this specific area. So, focus on that area instead of pouting and complaining about why it is not you that has been called to preach. And, if your area is preaching, stop worrying about why you are not the bishop or the overseer or something that you perceive to be higher. While you are sitting there feeling insignificant, the profit of the assignment that God has given you is still required of you. So, I implore you to go dig up the assignment that you’ve buried. Start working what He has given you. Our God is a God of increase and multiplication. Go back to Genesis 1:28, His command for his people was to multiply. This means that He expects the assignment that He’s given you to have made some profit by the time He comes back. He expects your church to have created some believers who are steadfast in the faith. He expects your books to have drawn people closer to Him and His truth. He expects your influence in the earth to have grown by the time He gets back. He expects His kingdom to be advanced. What does that mean? He expects to be ruling over some new territories by the time that He returns. He expects principalities and regional spirits to have been dismantled so that Revelation 11:15b can ring true that, “The kingdoms of this world have become the kingdoms of our Lord and of His Christ, and He shall reign forever and ever!”
How do I begin to make my assignment profitable to the kingdom of God? First, you must devote yourself to the Lord. Second, you must know your assignment and understand its significance. Thirdly, you must do things that reinforce growth in your assignment. If you are a singer, get lessons. If you are to be in the marketplace, research your area of business, go to school. You must do the necessary things that will help you understand the field you’ve been called to and grow the gifts associated with the assignment. Fourth, you must execute! This is a lot of the issue. We don’t mind gaining knowledge but we refuse to execute the assignment. Our assignment is worthless if we are not allowing it to do its job. I beseech you; find yourselves doing what the Lord has told you to do. If He has entrusted you with an assignment, be diligent in listening, learning, planning and executing. We don’t know when He is returning but when He does He will require an answer. Will you be one who has been an avenue of increase and multiplication in the earth? Or, will He consider you lazy? Do your assignment. Stay on the Path.
