DAY 85 of #100daysofJesus
In Jesus' parable of the talents, three servants are given a stewardship of varying amounts "according to his ability" and expected to put them to good use while their master travels.
Two of the three servants wisely invest their money and yield 100% returns by the time the master comes back. The third servant fearfully buries his money in the ground.
When the day of reckoning comes, the two servants who doubled their money are greeted with "well done, thou good and faithful servant...enter into the joy of thy Lord."
The fearful servant is chastised "thou wicked and slothful servant" and cast out.
Interestingly, the amount of money given to each servant was based on what each was capable of handling at the time. The reward of the servant who turned 5 into 10 was no greater than that of the servant who turned 2 into 4. Both did the best they could and were rewarded for it.
Had the slothful servant done the best he could, turning 1 into 2, he would have received the same reward. This was clearly not a competition.
The point of the parable was never about how much each was given but what they did with what they received.
And life is the same way - not a competition to see who among us can achieve the greatest worldly success. It's not even a competition to see who can become the best disciple of Christ or develop the most Christlike attributes.
Rather than being a competition, life is about making the best of what we have and improving upon the stewardship we've been given.
For example, we each have a physical body and a brain. Some of us have stronger or weaker bodies or mental capacities, and that is OK! But all of us can take care of our stewardship by living healthy, educating ourselves, and using our God-given talents to bless others.
In the Little Drummer Boy, the young orphan is at first discouraged as he compares his lack of gifts for baby Jesus to the lavish gifts of the wise men. But once he accepts that all he can do is play his drum, he realizes it is ENOUGH! He did what he could, and it was an acceptable offering. So it is with us.
We are here on earth in this mortal experience to progress and grow. We ought to be better people at the end of this year than we were are today.
Regardless of where we are at, we can do better, but intentional effort is required.
In Russell M Nelson's general conference talk entitled "We Can Do Better and Be Better," he teaches:
"When we choose to repent, we choose to change! We allow the Savior to transform us into the best version of ourselves. We choose to grow spiritually and receive joy—the joy of redemption in Him. When we choose to repent, we choose to become more like Jesus Christ!"
It's a powerful talk that I'd invite all to watch or read: www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/general-conference/2019/04/36nelson
This year my goal is self-transformation to become a better version of myself. My goal includes the process of daily repentance, which in Greek means daily changing of my mind, knowledge, spirit, and breath (i.e., every part of me).
I might be the servant to whom God only gave one or two talents, but I am committed to making the best of what I have been given. That's all that God expects of us, and I know it will be enough.
(Matthew 25:14-30)
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