His lord said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant; you were faithful over a few things, I will make you ruler over many things. Enter into the joy of your lord. Matthew 25:21 (NKJV)

This verse comes from a parable in Matthew called “the parable of the talents” where a land owner goes travelling and entrusts different amounts of his fortune to 3 servants. Two servants invest the money and received double what they were given. The third servant buried the money in the ground not wanting to risk investment in case of failure, and wanting to avoid his masters wrath in case of failure. The master returns and calls his servants to account for his money. The two that invested and had a positive return, pleased the master much. He said to them “Well done my good and faithful servants…” But to the servant who buried the money, he said “you wicked and lazy servant…”

There are a few complexities to this story, but I think the main encouragement here is that whatever you have been given, make sure you do something with it. Don't bury the gifts and talents God has given you. Fear, failure, disappointment, apathy… all different kinds of emotions and circumstances can cause us to lay down our talents and bury the opportunities we are given – BUT DON'T GIVE IN. God has given you things… you have been created with a unique purpose and personality inbuilt talents – use them… no matter what. If you get knocked down, just get back up again. Do your best. Don't be taken out by fear. I would go so far as to say that I don't think God looks so much to what we produce with our gifts, if we earn anything, or even grow – but that we just have a go, that we get up off our butts and put our hearts and hands to the purpose and season God has given us.

Failure can be scary I know, but burying a treasure that could change your life and the lives of others is even scarier. Good and faithful servants are those who dare to step out, not those who maintain perfection. Be encouraged today to use your opportunities and gifts well, step out in faith, take a risk. It’s not about winning or losing, but just simply about not wasting what God has built within you. Have an awesome day.

 NEW DESIGNS UP!