Matthew 25:14-29

14 For it will be like a man going on a journey, who called his servantand entrusted to them his property. 15 To one he gave five talents, to another two, to another one, to each according to his ability. Then he went away. 16 He who had received the five talents went at once and traded with them, and he made five talents more. 17 So also he who had the two talents made two talents more. 18 But he who had received the one talent went and dug in the ground and hid his master’s money. 19 Now after a long time the master of those servants came and settled accounts with them. 20 And he who had received the five talents came forward, bringing five talents more, saying, ‘Master, you delivered to me five talents; here, I have made five talents more.’ 21 His master said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant. You have been faithful over a little; I will set you over much. Enter into the joy of your master.’ 22 And he also who had the two talents came forward, saying, ‘Master, you delivered to me two talents; here, I have made two talents more.’ 23 His master said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant. You have been faithful over a little; I will set you over much. Enter into the joy of your master.’ 24 He also who had received the one talent came forward, saying, ‘Master, I knew you to be a hard man, reaping where you did not sow, and gathering where you scattered no seed, 25 so I was afraid, and I went and hid your talent in the ground. Here, you have what is yours.’ 26 But his master answered him, ‘You wicked and slothful servant! You knew that I reap where I have not sown and gather where I scattered no seed? 27 Then you ought to have invested my money with the bankers, and at my coming I should have received what was my own with interest. 28 So take the talent from him and give it to him who has the ten talents. 29 For to everyone who has will more be given, and he will have an abundance. But from the one who has not, even what he has will be taken away.

Recently, my daughter received a new-to-her armoire. Before we could put the new piece of furniture in her room, the old chest of drawers had to be removed. As I was going through the overflowing drawers, I uncovered a couple of interesting items among the clothes- three old checks and a very full piggy bank. 

I immediately asked my daughter why she had not cashed the checks. She simply said “I forgot they were there.” (I don’t typically forget to deposit or cash a check if someone gives me one! 😂) Of course, my response was for us to go to the bank and try to cash or deposit the checks. When we arrived at the bank, walked inside and up to the teller, we asked about the checks. We were politely told that they could not deposit or cash checks which were more than six months old. So, the checks were now worthless. What had been valuable, had been stored and forgotten about and as a result was now worthless. Thankfully the checks were not written for large amounts, however, I hope my daughter learned something important that day. Needless to say we counted the money in her piggy bank and deposited a pretty substantial amount into her savings.

Back in August, I began a new part-time job. God opened doors and honestly led me to the job I have now working with babies in early intervention. I serve families and their precious little ones who have speech/language delays…some as result of a disability. I wouldn’t say I carelessly buried my ability for all these years- as I was raising and even homeschooling my children- but my speech pathology degree wasn’t exactly being used either.

Hidden gifts, forgotten treasure, buried talents. 

As I have been working, scheduling my time has become a must! I have the largest planner one can buy, and I write all my appointments down. With a husband, three kids, 2 dogs, and a part time job, life can get pretty busy! 

Recently, God gently reminded me to add a few more things to my schedule- setting aside time for regularly reading my Bible and getting back to the gym. He prompted me to actually write down the times in my planner like I would any other appointment. While I had been fairly consistent with my devotion time with God, my workout time had been pretty much non-existent until recently. While I’m in fairly good health, my 43-year-old metabolism is not what it was 20 years ago and I definitely need to lose some weight. 

How does any of this relate or matter? It all has to do with being a good steward of what the Lord entrusts us with. 

I want to use the knowledge and skills He’s allowed me to have to help others. 

I want to wisely use the resources God’s blessed me with. 

I want to take care of the earthly body He’s loaned me while I’m here.  

I want to please my Heavenly Father with what He’s so generously loaned me.

Everything I have belongs to Him anyway. There are far more talented, intelligent, gifted, and beautiful individuals in the world, but for me, being a good steward over what God has kindly given me is one of the best ways to show Him how thankful I truly am. 

Are you thankful for the knowledge, skills, and talents He’s lovingly loaned to you? If you haven’t been or maybe have forgotten to be, know that God isn’t mad. He’s simply patiently waiting for you to acknowledge the blessings He’s given you. It pleases Him to see you happy, using what you’ve been given to glorify Him.

Happy Thanksgiving Week!

Your friend,

Tiffany