You Have Something
Devotional Reading: Matthew 25:21 ESV
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.’
Today’s parable from Matthew 25 teaches an important lesson about facing tough situations with faith.
Each of the three men were given a sum of money (called talents in the Scripture) by their master. The first two, took what was given to them and put it to work. As a result, when their master returned, he was blessed and impressed—and he trusted them with more.
Sadly, the third man did not put what he was given to work. He looked at the relatively little he had been entrusted with and saw no opportunity for it to grow. Furthermore, he was so scared he’d lose what the master had given him, that he buried his talent in the ground. Then he blamed the master for his lack of productivity. Amazing!
So, what’s the lesson from this story?
Focus on what you DO have, not what you DON’T.
In 2 Kings, there is a story of a widow who’s facing an insurmountable debt and goes to the prophet Elisha for help. When asked what she had in her house, her first response was that she had nothing—nothing except a jar of oil. Surely God couldn’t use something as insignificant as that, she probably thought.
We’re a lot like that, aren’t we? Our present circumstances can easily cloud our vision and can prevent us from seeing the life preserver God has already given us. But God is the God of the impossible. He can make something out of NOTHING!
This reminds me of the incredible story of Jesus feeding the 5,000 (5,000 men plus thousands of women and children). Jesus asked His disciples how they were going to feed the massive crowd.
Puzzled, the disciples exclaimed that it would take more than a year’s wages to feed everyone! And all they had was a little kid’s snack lunch. It was almost too insignificant to mention!
But in God’s hands, a jar of oil and a little kid’s lunch can accomplish the impossible.
God has given something to everyone. He delights in using your “little” to do much. He loved using the kid’s lunch to feed the 5,000, and he loved taking the woman’s jar of oil and transforming her financial condition with it. What will you ask God to do with what He’s given you?
Prayer and Confession
Father Lord, Open my eyes that I may see what you have placed in my hands that will bring me great abundance.
Further Reading: Proverbs 13:23, Proverbs 28:19 Ephesians 1:18
