Oceans in the Desert

By Kathi Pelton

This week I have been thinking and praying about why there are so many in the body of Christ who have many talents and gifts but they are not being used or walking in leadership/authority within the spheres of the talents allotted to them. Why?

I believe that we can find the answer to this question in Luke 19. Beginning in verse 11 and ending in verse 27 we read the parable about the ten talents (minas). In this parable a noble man travels to a distant country to receive authority and become king over that region. He has servants back home and he gives each of them ten talents (minas) and told them to “engage in business” until he returns.

Jesus came to the earth where He will be our eternal king. Mankind (especially His sons and daughters who are servants by choice) have been given talents and asked to “engage in His business” until He returns.

This noble man’s “subjects” hated him and decided to send out a delegation who declare, “We don’t want this man to rule over us!” Maybe this is why he goes to find another country to be king over? (Doesn’t this sound like the delegations filling our country’s city streets with rebellion and anarchy!— not the peaceful protests or voices of reformation but the mobs bent on destruction). Let’s pray that God does not go looking for another country that will honor His authority!

Back to the parable…

When this noble man returns having “received authority to be king” in a far away country, he calls the ten servants that he gave money (talents/minas) to so he can find out how much they made in business. Or— what they did with the talents given to them?

The first one (vs. 16) gained ten more! Then the master told him, “Well done— because you have been faithful in a ‘very small’, I will give you authority over ten cities.”

The second one came and had made an increase of five talents. So, the master gave him authority over five cities. But another servant came and gave the master back only the talent originally given to him because he was his master’s severity so he hid it away. He didn’t even deposit it in the bank where it would earn interest! Because of this the master took away even the talent given to him so that he was left with nothing and was given authority over nothing.

The story concludes with these words,

“‘Yes,’ the king replied, ‘and to those who use well what they are given, even more will be given. But from those who do nothing, even what little they have will be taken away.” Luke‬ ‭19:26‬ ‭

This may sound like a hard word but we must understand the truth of sowing and reaping— of stewarding what has been given to us or hiding it away out of fear. We also must understand both the kindness and the severity of God! We cannot separate them or call one good and one bad. A good father is both kind in times of praise and pleasure as well as severe in times of discipline; because he desires to save us, protect us and teach us wisdom.

“Notice how God is both kind and severe. He is severe toward those who disobeyed, but kind to you if you continue to trust in his kindness. But if you stop trusting, you also will be cut off.” Romans 11:22

God is looking for those who can be trusted to steward what He has given to them. As we watch a “delegation of rebellion” take to the streets of our nation, God is looking for those who He can give authority to in different spheres of influence. We do not want to lose Him as the king over our nation!

But— first we must be faithful with the “small” talents entrusted to us and “do God’s business” with them. We must multiply and invest what we have been given so that we are trusted and given authority over more. I believe that this parable is both for this time and for the ages to come after the Lord returns. What we are entrusted with during this time will be handed to Him when we stand before Him and then authority will be given in the world to come.

If you have not been seeing increase with the small (or large) talents you’ve been given then know this: “It’s not too late!” You can begin today to take what you’ve been given and invest it (do business with what you have) to see increase and multiplication. Talents are not only in the form of gifts like public speaking, writing, singing, playing an instrument, etc. (the ones we focus on in the church world) but they are all that the Lord has invested in you— your story, your compassion, your service of “helps,” your relationships, your family, your finances and all of your blessings.

The church needs to unfold the cloth that has hidden the talents given to them and deposit them in ways that will reap increase. It’s time to receive authority so that we can see our nation saved.

We each need to be about our Father’s business and then watch as God comes and announces over you, “Well done! Because you have been faithful with the small I will give you authority over more!”

God is looking for those that He can give authority and influence to. His eyes are watching how we “do Kingdom business.” Jesus understood this and was our example of this,

And He said to them, “Why did you seek Me? Did you not know that I must be about My Father’s business?” Luke 2:49

It is time to be about our Father’s business and multiply that which He has entrusted us with.

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