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IF JESUS LIVED TODAY
WOULD HE STILL ENCOURAGE PRODUCTIVITY?
(Matthew 25:14-28) Delivered 3-17-02

Three hikers came upon a raging river. The first guy
prayed, "Please God, give me strength to cross this river."
Poof! God gave him strong arms and legs, and he swam across.
The second guy prayed, "Please God, give me strength and
ability to cross this river." Poof! God gave him strong arms
and a boat, and he rowed across."

The third guy saw how it worked and so he prayed, "God,
give me strength and ability and intelligence to cross this
river." Poof! God turned him into a woman; she looked at a
map, found a nearby bridge, and walked across the river.
All of us have different strengths and abilities.
Jesus told a wonderful story about various levels of
talents and resources. He said, "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" (Matt. 25:14-15).

Now, it's obvious that everyone is not equal when it comes
to capabilities or opportunities. That's not important. But it
is very important for each one to do all he can with what he
has. Jesus was clear about that. He describes how the man who
had been given 5 talents and the man who had been given 2
talents both immediately began productive plans of action. "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" (Matt. 25:16-17).

Unfortunately, the man who had been given one talent refused
to use it. He chose a totally unproductive course. The
Scripture says, "The man who had received the one talent went
off, dug a hole in the ground and hid his master's money" (Matt.
25:18).

For awhile all three seemed to go on as before. But the
consequences of these choices would definitely be revealed. We
may not reap what we sow immediately; but we will reap what we
sow eventually. Jesus continued his parable: "After a long
time the master of those servants returned and settled accounts
with them" (Matt. 25:19).

He complimented both of the productive servants. "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!' " (Matt. 20-23).

But the response to the unproductive servant was
unexpectedly harsh and final. "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.' " (Matt. 25:24-25).

This servant made several mistakes: He had a negative
evaluation of his master; he made excuses and projected blame.
But above all, he was negligent and unproductive.
"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' " (Matt.
25:26-28).

Why do you suppose Jesus told this story? What lessons can
we learn from this parable? What point was he making about
productivity.

I. FIRST, HE EMPHASIZED THAT EVERYONE HAS A GIFT.

Every human being has some ability or some strength or some
resource. There are no totally useless people. In this parable
Jesus didn't even mention a no-talent person because there's no
such thing. Many people feel they are being humble and modest
when they claim, "I have no special talents; I can't do anything
well." But that's a cop-out! It's just a way to avoid
responsibility. God doesn't create worthless things. Peter
says, "Each one should use whatever gift he has received to
serve others faithfully administering God's grace in its various
forms" (I Peter 4:10).

II. NEXT, HE SHOWED THAT PRODUCTIVITY WILL BE REWARDED.

He wanted to assure us that there is no difference in the
rewards of those who have a lot and use it well and those who
have much less, but use it well. Ordinary men and women
shouldn't be jealous or envious of super-stars or multi-talented
individuals. There are no inferior human beings. Little
kindnesses are very important. Jesus praised the woman who
washed his feet and promised rewards to those who gave away cups
of water. He said those who fed the hungry and housed the
stranger and made clothes for the poor and visited the sick were
blessed and welcomed into heaven. "The King will say . . .
`Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance,
the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world.
For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty
and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you
invited me in, I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick
and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit
me.'" (Matt. 25:34-36.

Jesus never said that just the great accomplishments would
be recognized. We're only accountable for what we do with what
we have. Paul says, "Do not neglect your gift, which was given
you. . ." (I Tim. 4:14).

III. FINALLY, HE WARNED THAT UNPRODUCTIVITY WILL BE PUNISHED.

If we're idle, not only will we lose a reward; we will even
lose the ability or the resource itself. It's a true
demonstration of the principle of, "Use it or Lose it!" It
seems almost unfair to take the little bit that the third man
has away from him; but that's how life works. Jesus was
ruthless about indolence and unproductivity. He said, "Every
tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into
the fire" (Matt. 7:19).

Seeing the many needs around him, he tried to recruit
workers. The Scripture says, "He told them, 'The harvest is
plentiful, but the workers are few. Ask the Lord of the harvest,
therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field' " (Luke
10:2).

Now, what if this were today? If Jesus was telling a
modern story, would he use billionaires and middle class
professionals and day laborers as examples? Would he talk about
a person with a genius level IQ and an average man or woman and
a retarded individual? Would he hold the ordinary citizen who
can only do a few simple tasks accountable for using those few
abilities? Would he hold the multi-talented performer who can
sing, play and entertain and do many things accountable for
using his many abilities?

Yes, that's the point of this story. He didn't expect the
man with one talent to gain as much as the man with 2 talents or
the man with 5 talents. But he did expect him to do something!
He wouldn't compare a Forest Gump unfavorably with an Einstein!
He wouldn't condemn a street cleaner and compliment a Bill Gates.
We know Jesus would use modern language and current
situations to illustrate this lesson if he lived in America
today instead of Palestine 2000 years ago, but his principles
would still be the same.

1, FIRST, HE WOULD STILL HOLD EVERY PERSON RESPONSIBLE FOR SOME
CONTRIBUTION.

Jesus knew that human beings are destroyed when they are
allowed to sit idly by and do nothing. He would be pleased with
dedicated teachers, doctors and ministers. But, he would be
equally pleased with dishwashers and gardeners and child care
workers. Everyone can do something productive. Jesus had
enormous respect for those who do small things. "If anyone
gives even a cup of cold water to one of these little ones
because he is my disciple, I tell you the truth, he will
certainly not lose his reward" (Matt. 10:42).

2. NEXT, JESUS WOULD STILL VALUE PRODUCTIVITY.

We will be judged by what we do with what we have! The
small contributions of those who only have a few talents, but
use them well will be honored just as much as the great
contributions of the rich and famous. Remember, his remarks
about the widow: "Jesus sat down opposite the place where the
offerings were put and watched the crowd putting their money
into the temple treasury. Many rich people threw in large
amounts. But a poor widow came and put in two very small copper
coins, worth only a fraction of a penny. Calling his disciples
to him, Jesus said, "I tell you the truth, this poor widow has
put more into the treasury than all the others. They all gave
out of their wealth; but she, out of her poverty, put in
everything--all she had to live on" (Mark 12:41-44).

3. FINALLY, JESUS WOULD STILL CONDEMN UNPRODUCTIVITY.

He wouldn't accept excuses from those who do nothing. That
would cause big changes in our Social System. Sitting around,
whining about our lack of ability or our tough breaks in the
past does not exempt us from doing our part now. Furthermore,
Jesus would practice what he preached. When he was only 12
years old he said, "How is it that ye sought me? Knew ye not
that I must be about my Father's business?" (Luke 2:49, kjv).
Later he said, "As long as it is day, we must do the work
of him who sent me . . ." (John 9:4).

If we're to take the Gospel seriously, what does this mean for
us? Remember, "Whoever claims to live in him must walk as Jesus
did" (I John 2:6).

Jesus worked with his hands and his head and his heart. He
was constantly teaching, healing and counseling. If he lived
today, he would still use his abilities in productive ways. Dr.
Robert Schuller told of a woman who had polio. He said, "She's
in a wheelchair. She can't even feed herself. But she's an
exciting, enthusiastic person who thinks about others. For
instance, right now, she is very busy reading law books to a
blind student. That's her current project. She can't even use
her hands. Instead, she has this long object that she holds in
her mouth to flip the pages. The student she is helping will
soon graduate as a lawyer, and he'll go out and help people
solve their problems. He is able to get his education even
though he is totally blind, because one woman reads all his
books to him."

Dr. Schuller concluded, "This proves that no matter how
handicapped you are, you can do something."
Do you try to discover and develop your skills? Jesus did!
Do you appreciate what you can do, instead of envying what
others can do? Jesus did!

Do you serve people in ways that fit your personality and
training? Jesus did!

The Greek poet, Virgil, said, "They are capable because
they think they are capable." We must trust in our God-given
abilities and use them in service to others. If we do that they
will increase and God will say, "Well done, thou good and
faithful servant!"

Right now, will you dedicate your life, your talents and
your skills in service to God and others?

****

These messages are from an unpublished manuscript © copyrighted
by Miles and Maralene Wesner, Idabel, OK. Please use them in
any way you think appropriate. The only thing we ask is that
you give credit for original material in published works.

Miles E. Wesner