Third? No, Thanks
A bit ago I wrote about the parable Jesus told of the Good Samaritan. A few folks had issues with the application, as it rubbed a blister on pretty set ideas on life and culture. Living out the great commandment to love one another is often messy and never optional, regardless who needs the help.
Here’s another parable Jesus taught, recounted toward the end of Matthew’s gospel (ch. 25). It is the Passion Week just prior to his trial and execution, and it’s almost as if Jesus was squeezing in as much as possible before time was up.
In the middle of the chapter, Matthew retells a long-ish Jesus story of a man who left on a journey and divided up his holdings to servants to manage while he was gone. The amounts varied between the three guys, depending, apparently, on their abilities and track-record with the boss.
The first two invested well and returned more than they were given, but the fellow who got the least was a fearful worker who dreaded the prospect of showing up empty handed when the boss came home if his investments went south. So, he buried his share and turned back just what he was given, thinking that was just fine, but…he missed the whole point of the exercise, and the returning boss was in no way pleased at his choices. The servant was stripped of any privilege and lost out on everything.
While this parable may have many facets, the principle is pretty straightforward: Each of us have been given gifts and abilities, and it's obvious these vary in both kind and size. While gifts aren't earned, they are certainly best when trained up, honed sharp, and wisely used. However, still just being tall children, we foolishly compare and either exult or feel less-than when we measure ourselves to those around us, and sometimes our fear of disappointing God keeps us from using what we have. That leaves some believers tip-toeing through life with little to speak of in terms of impact on their world.
At its heart, the parable challenges every person to use, to invest, his/her gifts in life so that the Master sees a profit. And the profit to God can be found in the kingdom being grown and good being done.
At the top of any year, a worthwhile practice looks back at the lap we just finished, searching for moments and movements we were involved in that carried the scent of God. It's fun to revisit the people we touched and the ways we stretched ourselves beyond the norm, using whatever we have been given as a piece of a much larger story Jesus is writing. Size and scope don't matter, so don't get sucked into that swamp of comparison. What matters are those times when you were not a spectator but a player who responded to the shoulder tap of the Spirit.
Then, a healthy exercise is looking ahead to a fresh calendar sheet. While it's true that "Yesterday's scores don't win today's ball games," past experiences can and should fill our sails with wind for the next part in our journey. The opportunities are as varied as there are people.
Stretching a bit further when you are scared.
Risking a bit more by saying yes.
Finding new ways to invest "you" into others.
Being a peacemaker as well as a peacekeeper in conflicted times.
How this looks in a practical sense really isn't difficult. One time on a service trip to rural Baja Sur with my friend Steve, I met a retired gringa who lived there in a small ocean-side town. Suzanne seemed to know everyone in the area, and her days were filled with people and projects, but still made time for a siesta and walks on the beach, and a frosty beverage at the end of the day. When I asked her how she did it all, she chuckled, smiled and said,
"Before my feet hit the floor in the morning I tell Jesus that I'm open for business, then get on with my day. Somehow, plenty of opportunities to be his hands and voice in town just show up."
Regardless of where you live or what age you are or how you may feel as having little to contribute, what say we commit together in '24 to leave our "third servant" mindset and choices in the past, and with whatever we have been given, seek God-profit in all we do. And perhaps get used to saying each morning, "Lord, I'm open for business."
** Be a fountain, not a drain
And MusicMusicMusic...
And some bad jokes to groan by...
A preacher was walking down the street when he came upon a group of about a dozen boys, all of them between 10 and 12 years of age.
The group surrounded a dog. Concerned that the boys were hurting the dog, he went over and asked, "What are you doing with that dog?"
One of the boys replied, "This dog is just an old neighborhood stray. We all want him, but only one of us can take him home. So we've decided that whichever one of us can tell the biggest lie will get to keep the dog."
Of course, the reverend was taken aback. "You boys shouldn't be having a contest telling lies!" he exclaimed. He then launched into a ten minute sermon against lying, beginning, "Don't you boys know it's a sin to lie," and ending with, "Why, when I was your age, I never told a lie."
There was dead silence for about a minute. Just as the reverend was beginning to think he'd gotten through to them, the smallest boy gave a deep sigh and said, "All right, give him the dog."
__________
A four-year-old was at the pediatrician for a check up. As the doctor looked in her ears, he asked, "Do you think I'll find Big Bird in here?"
The little girl stayed silent.
Next, the doctor took a tongue depressor and looked down her throat. He asked, "Do you think I'll find the Cookie Monster down there?"
Again, the little girl was silent.
Then the doctor put a stethoscope to her chest. As he listened to her heartbeat, he asked, "Do you think I'll hear Barney in there?"
"Oh, no!" the little girl replied. "Jesus is in my heart. Barney's on my underpants."