Title Matthew 25:14-30 One Talent Complex
Contents
One Talent Complex (Matthew 25:14~30)
According to one psychologist, about 95% of ordinary people live with a feeling of inferiority or complex. Even we Christians are like that. Anyone can have various feelings of inferiority or complex with respect to appearance, talent, learning, wealth, gifts, status, position, etc. But the problem is that such a person can never be happy. Therefore, in order to live a victorious life, you must overcome feelings of inferiority or complexities. How, then, can this be overcome? There is no other way than to establish a sound values and outlook on life based on the Bible. Only then will you be able to live a contented and active life in any condition.
The text is often called the parable of the talents, and it teaches important aspects of biblical values and life. Through these words, I hope that our values will be renewed and established as biblical.
A man went to a foreign country and called three servants and gave them one talent, two talents, and five talents respectively. One talent is roughly equivalent to 6,000 denarii. Since 1 denarius is a worker's daily wage, 1 talent is a very large sum of money. It is a large amount of money that one worker can collect without spending a single penny for 20 years. After that, the servants who had received five and two talents traded and left a double amount. But the servant who received one talent just buried it in the ground. After a long time, the owner returns and does the accounting. The servants who received five or two talents are praised for being good and faithful. However, the servant who received one talent is rebuked for being wicked and lazy. Here, the master points to Jesus Christ, and leaving a long way symbolizes the resurrection and ascension. The servants refer to the church and Christians, and the talents refer to the human condition, such as the wealth, talents, and gifts bestowed upon each person. The return of the master after a long time indicates the second coming of Jesus, and accounting indicates judgment.
This parable of the talents teaches us some important lessons today.
First, the fact that we are all stewards of God.
God is the creator of the universe and the owner of all things. (Genesis 1:1, Psalm 24:1) Each of us belongs to God. (1 Corinthians 4:7) Strictly speaking, it is not mine. In other words, God is the owner, and we are just the salary bosses who manage the entrusted things. Someday the time will come to return it. When we know this well and live humbly as God's stewards, we can live the wisest life (1 Peter 4:10)
Second, being stewards, we must be content with the human condition entrusted to us.
A steward is only a manager, so he must be content with what he is given. Because God took care of it (verse 15), we are simply thankful. There is nothing to be proud of because you received a lot. It is a sleazy grudge that comes from worldly values. Conversely, there is nothing to be discouraged by receiving less. The one-talent complex in which people feel inferior because they received less is also a product of worldly values. It all comes from comparison. In that sense, inferiority and superiority are two sides of the same coin. A person who complains about receiving less will surely be proud of receiving more. The most important thing, little or no, is the fact that God has given it to you. It's a simple comparison with only one or two, but overall, they gave it evenly.
In particular, we Christians are beings created in the image of God and have been honored with the forgiveness of sins through the blood of Christ. That alone is a sufficient condition for an audit. Moreover, God provides everything we need while we live in the world (Matt. 6:32). Therefore, it is right to be content with everything and give thanks.
Third, as stewards, we must do our best to fulfill the mission entrusted to us.
A steward is a person in charge. Therefore, all we have to do is do our best in the mission entrusted to us. Why doesn't God take us to that good heaven right away? because of the mission. It's not meant to be enjoyed and enjoyed. Having fun is better than heaven. You must live for your mission. Our mission is summarized in the three commandments of the Bible. That is, the cultural command (Genesis 1:28), the love command (Mt 22:37-40), and the mission command (Mt 28:18-20). We must do our best in this mission with the things we have been given. What is truly grateful and fortunate is the fact that God does not require only the greatest, the greatest, the greatest, etc. of us. God only demands the best. It is not because the one who received one talent was rebuked not because they were few, but because he did not do his best.
We must always be conscious of the end of life. We do not know when the Lord will return or we may be called, but two things are certain: that day is sure to come and we are getting closer. There is no advantage in receiving more, and there is no disadvantage in receiving less. It is easy for those who have received a lot to forget their stewardship and pretend to be a master. However, those who have received much must know how to receive great judgment (James 3:1). Conversely, those who have received little are easy to neglect their mission with a heart of little or nothing.
One of our misconceptions is that we think that God is only glorified through great things, but that is not the case. If you do your best even with little things, you will receive as much glory as you can. (1 Corinthians 1:27-29) The captive girl who saved General Naaman, the boy who gave the five fish, and the widow who gave two lepts of money are no less than anyone else. Helen Keller, Crosby, Song Myung-hee, etc. are weakly disabled, but they are mature Christians who have glorified God's glory and spread the gospel widely. In the world, there is only one person who is number one, but in the sight of God, everyone who does their best is number one. Therefore, do not complain or worry that we received less, but think about how we are not doing our best. Whatever the circumstances, if we live as good stewards, please believe that we are victors in life and a happy life.
Fourth, if we are good stewards, we can expect blessings and rewards.
A good steward who does his best may long for God's blessings and rewards. He entrusts more to those who do their best. (verses 21, 23, 29) This is the principle of promotion and the principle of blessing. Examples of this can be found in the Bible. Joseph is sold as a slave while running his father's errands. However, with his sincere faith, he became the prime minister of Egypt and was used preciously. David was anointed for his loyalty while he was a shepherd, met Goliath while on an errand for his father and defeated him.
Even more important is the reward that will be given to the faithful steward in the future. They will participate in the joy of the master (verses 21, 23). The crown of righteousness (2 Tim. 4:7-8) and the crown of life (Revelation 2:10) are in preparation. If you go to heaven in the future, many amazing things will happen. Famous people in the world may be invisible or shabby. Conversely, you may witness the glory of wearing the crowns of the unknown and humble in the world. These are the stars of heaven. (Daniel 12:3)
Therefore, we hope that we will become good stewards who focus our hearts on our missions, not on having a lot and becoming famous. For a victorious life and a happy life, shake off the one-talent complex and live as a good steward with gratitude for everything. That is why I earnestly pray that all of us will be able to step forward boldly with Amen whenever the Lord calls us.