I often meditate on how scripture applies to our daily life. I believe that that this is our Lord’s will for our lives. I don’t believe that scripture was meant to be an unobtainable goal, a constant critic, and reminder of our lack.
Though, it does show us our weakness, and inabilities, it also shows us the power of God, and His unending faithfulness in His desire to shower grace, and mercy over our shortcomings.
“But he said to me, ‘My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.’ Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me.”— 2 Corinthians 12:9
I believe that the Bible shows us that whereas we are encumbered with a specific, individual set of shortcomings, we are also endowed with a specific, and individual set of talents, or abilities.
Why might these specific, and individual traits, positive, and negative, be fused into the fabric of our individual DNA? I believe that it is because we are each a specific, and individual member of the body of Christ, and that these specific, and individual talents, or traits, are needed to perform our specific, and individual functions within that body.
“that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and of revelation in the knowledge of him,
having the eyes of your hearts enlightened, that you may know what is the hope to which he has called you, what are the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints,
and what is the immeasurable greatness of his power toward us who believe,
according to the working of his great might
that he worked in Christ when he raised him from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly places,
far above all rule and authority and power and dominion, and above every name that is named, not only in this age but also in the one to come.
And he put all things under his feet and gave him as head over all things to the church,
which is his body, the fullness of him who fills all in all.” —Ephesians 1:17-23
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“For as in one body we have many members, and the members do not all have the same function,
so we, though many, are one body in Christ, and individually members one of another.
Having gifts that differ according to the grace given to us, let us use them: if prophecy, in proportion to our faith;”—Romans 12:4-6
What is that God-ordained function, and what are we to do to fulfill that function in this earthly existence? This is what I believe is our second most important question.
Our most important question is whether we will choose to accept the lordship of Jesus Christ, but second only to that is how must we perform discipleship under His lordship. Keep in mind, if we do not obey our lord, he is not really our lord. This is true in our earthly relationships, as it is certainly true in the spiritual.
This brings us to the topic of this essay. How does our lord, the Lord Jesus Christ expect us to perform citizenship within our nation? Are we to mindlessly obey the dictates of an oppressive regime, or are we to affect righteousness within our civil society? What are we to do with the talents given to us by our Lord?
What are our constitutional authorities and duties within our constitutional republic? What are we enabled, empowered, and required to do by our constitution, and scripture?
As individuals, we have many versions of the answer to this question, but as the Lord is one, He has a very limited list of options for us. I don’t believe that leaving the choice to someone else is one of those choices. Many Americans choose to let others choose in their stead, the blind following the blind.
In the parable of the talents, ( Matt 25:14-30,) we learn that the master, (could this represent God, our Lord?) gave talents to three servants, (could these servants represent us?)
He left these talents in their possession for some reason, but this record does not disclose that reason at the onset. It merely tells us that he gave these talents to them, “according to their ability.” Ability to do what? Scripture does not say, but the following context will reveal.
Our talents, are likewise given us according to our ability to perform as the Lord intends, although it is our duty to discover what our abilities are, that we may be found faithful.
It is important to know that the servant who’s ability awarded him five talents seemed to instinctively understand the purpose was to use those talents, and he prospered likewise.
The servant who’s ability awarded him two talents also seemed to instinctively understand that his purpose was to use those talents, and he prospered likewise.
The third, who was also given a talent, “according to his ability,” choose to be unfaithful, to squander the opportunity to employ the use of his talent.
I find it interesting that when the master returned, he judged the faithfulness of these servants. Could this be a vision of the judgement of Christians’ faithfulness after the return of Christ? Could this record’s intention be to give us direction in how to choose wisely?
I also note that after his pronouncement of the righteousness, or lack thereof, of these servants’ choices, the master removes the single talent that had been given to the one servant, and adds it to the talents of the recipient of five, who had already increased them to ten, now leaving him with eleven talents, by the grace of the master.
The slothful servant, who had obviously not chosen wisely, was relieved of his single talent, which we have been told he was able to steward properly, yet chose not to.
Does this record parallel with our duty as American citizens? Can we choose to serve God in our civic activism, or do we also have the ability to squander this enormous opportunity?
I believe that allowing unchecked authority, in the hands of elected political officials, to reign unjustly over the civic society of the USA is as unrighteous as this record depicts the slothful servant.
If we are to be faithful American citizens, we must learn what our talents are. We must discover how they can be employed properly, and we must choose to apply them. I don’t believe there are any other options, and I believe that this revelation is the very reason for the record of the, “parable of the talents.”
Eric Metaxas’ new book, “Letter to the American Church.” Expands on this concept in chapter thirteen, using the history of the German church, before and during the reign of Hitler.
"Letter to the American Church" Christian Book. com
"Letter to the American Church Christian Amazon. com"
What are your talents, how are they to be employed, and are you employing them?
God bless you, Dave