"After a long absence, the master of those three servants came back and settled up with them. The one given five thousand dollars showed him how he had doubled his investment. His master commended him: 'Good work! You did your job well. From now on be my partner'." (Matthew 25:19-21, The Message).
God has invested into every living being He created. For each of us, there is something that God has made available to you - gifts, talents, skills, abilities and opportunities - which God expects you to use in bringing glory to Him. God’s investments in our respective lives may not be equal but it is equitable and adequate for each individual. The righteousness and justice of God guarantees that. There are at least four things people could do with God's investment in their lives.
You can waste it. That is the story of the prodigal son in Luke 15. The Bible says that after receiving his portion of the inheritance, he went away from the presence of the father and wasted it through a very irresponsible lifestyle. I want you to note a peculiar characteristic of this group - they live their lives away from the presence of God. God is not in their thoughts at all, except and until they have their backs against the wall. All those who live irresponsible, reckless and careless lives fit into this category.
The second thing people do with God's investment in their lives is to sell it. Balaam merchandised his spiritual giftings and took money to work against the purpose of God (Jude 1:11). Sometimes money may not be involved in the sale of God's investment in a man's life. Samson for instance sold heaven's investment in his life on the laps of Delilah. The key characteristic of this group is that personal pleasure and profit are more important to them than the fulfilment of God's purpose. The welfare of God's kingdom can always be sacrificed on the altar of lust.
The third thing people do with God's investment in their lives is to hide it. The servant that was described as wicked, slothful and unprofitable kept heaven's investment in the ground. Those in this group are typically the lazy type and their wickedness consists in the fact that they just won't be bothered about making gains for the kingdom of God even if they were presented with quality opportunities. Friends, it is important to be diligent and find out what God has invested into your life, and then go on to use it for His glory lest your slothfulness turn you into a wicked person before God.
Finally, there is the glorious category who profit with the investment of God in their lives for the good of the kingdom of God. Such are the good and faithful servants referred to in today's text. Such are the Abrahams of this world, the Davids, Peters Johns and Pauls of this world. They are characteristically consumed with a passion to see the will of God come to pass in their generation. Of David, for example, the Bible says he "served his own generation by the will of God" (Acts 13:36).
God’s plan, provision and expectation for your life is that you would be a member of the last group, the category of those who profit for God with their talents and giftings. Let me close with a strong warning: please never use whatever God has graciously given you to work against God or the things of God. To do so is to incur the wrath of God here and in the hereafter.
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