Sometimes, hearing a truth in a different way (or in a real-life setting) helps it sink in.
In most religions, many of the main truths are not just stated but are illustrated through examples or shown through stories.
In Christianity, Jesus often tells the people listening stories. Only, these are a special kind of story, called a parable - a story with a message. Just as Aesop's fables are not simply entertaining stories about animals but whose main point is a moral message the reader is supposed to take away, Jesus's stories are more about the message than the details.
Unlike Aesop's fables, where the message is clearly stated at the end of the story, Jesus didn't tell us a nice summary line. Sometimes his message is easy to figure out, and sometimes it's more ambiguous. This is why people have debated the messages and meanings of his stories for hundreds of years.
Today I had an insight about a particular story: the story of the talents.
In this story, Jesus tells of a landowner who gives 3 of his servants some money. To one he gives 5 coins (called Talents), to one he gives 2, and to the last he gives 1. Then this owner leaves on a trip. When he comes back, he asks the servants for an account of the money. The first, to whom he gave 5, went out and doubled that money, so now had 10. The second, to whom he gave 2, went out and doubled that money also, so now had 4. But the 3rd servant was so afraid he went and hid his money in the field, so didn't make any extra money. The owner chides him harshly, saying he should have at least invested in their version of the bank, to make a little extra money! He takes that coin away and gives it to the servant who had 5. One message seems pretty clear: don't be a bad steward of what you're given.
I was listening to a sermon which used this story. In the sermon, the preacher was talking about investing money, but acknowledged the Talent(s) you're given are your resources - not just financial but your time, energy, etc.
And then I had a realization.
The Message:
My realization was this: I realized the Talent could also stand for something like faith, and we're not all given the same amount, but it's what we do with what we're given that counts.
I know of many Christians throughout history who have had doubts. Some seem plagued with doubts and are constantly burdened and troubled, while others seem carefree and at ease. Myself, I tend towards ease while Spouse struggles constantly with questions. In fact, I know several people who want to believe in the Christian God and believe the rational truths of Christianity but have just never felt God. Imagine praying, living life, going to church...and never, not ever once, feeling a presence like God is there.
I don't know what to tell these people. My own faith comes partly from the fact that I had some powerful God experiences in my past, times where God was speaking directly to me. Now, that hasn't happened for a while (in fact, happened often during 1 period in my life and only occasionally afterwards), but it was such a powerful and...supernatural experience, for lack of a better word...that I cannot deny the existence of God, and this carries me through during times where I don't feel or see God working in my life.
So my heart breaks for these people, and it raises the question of "why? Why God why won't you show yourself to these people? Are you and something is just broken in them so they can't hear you? But if you're God and want to bring people to yourself, can't you fix that?"
But the parable of the Talents is an answer, at least a partial one. We may all be given different amounts of faith. So perhaps the people burdened with doubts were only given 1 talent, and they're doing the best they can with that (and God will judge them with more mercy).
And since I find it relatively easy to believe, that would mean I was given more. Which means...more is expected of me. Which is a little scary. Am I living up to what God wants of me?
I've never told anybody about Jesus and had them come to know Him. I'm not one who talks about Jesus often (in fact, hardly at all) or wears my faith on my sleeve. In fact, I struggle thinking of God daily and making good Christian decisions even when the choice is clear.
Now, it's clear from the Bible that salvation does not depend on my actions. But, the Bible also mentions often that if your faith doesn't change you, doesn't let you depend on God, did you really put your trust in God in the first place? And then how many times do you have to choose your own way instead of God's before you're considered not saved? It's a dangerous slope if you start down it, much like the path of the Sith. The good news is, there's hope.
Even if you've called yourself a Christian up to this point but haven't trusted God, you can change. Right now, your next decision, tomorrow, the next day...begin trusting him. And trust is hard. That's why it's called trust. It means going with what someone else (in this case, God) wants, without seeing the whole picture. Maybe when every bit of your intuition screams that it's wrong.
Main Points:
1. We are all given different amounts of faith. If you struggle with doubts, do what you can. God doesn't expect as much from those given less. And if you're given more...use what you have. Share your joy of God. Help others.
2. In an added twist, in real life, the servants don't know how much they are given. This means if you're doing everything you can but are only producing 2 fruits worth as outcome, yet see someone else easily producing 5 fruits worth, don't beat yourself up. Each person is given different skills and talents. You may only have been given 2 to start with. God doesn't expect you to then bring in 5, he is happy if you simpy double your 2...even if your gain is smaller than someone else's. Since no one can know how much faith/resources/opportunity someone else is given, it can be disheartening to judge yourself as bringing in less than others when you're trying your hardest. Just do what you can with what you have. You may be an introvert. You may not have many friends. You may not have opportunities. Just try to live as Christ-like as you can, and take opportunities if you see them.
3. The last part is the bank. The owner tells the servant given less that he should have at least put it in the bank and gotten some interest back, even if it didn't double. What does the bank symbolize? I think it symbolizes the church. So at least put your time and efforts into other Christians - you may not bring non-Christians to Christ, or even use your resources to help the poor, but you are helping support others who are...so in a way you're getting a tiny investment back even if you're not on the front lines yourself. This means volunteering in the church, helping support other Christians, etc. Now, all Christians should be doing this, but if you can't do anything else with your life, at least pour your efforts into this.
No comments:
Post a Comment