Happy Sabbath friends! Have you ever encountered others who had all these dreams, goals, passions, etc., but they were doing nothing to spring it into action? Or maybe you are reading that question, and maybe it isn’t another person, but yourself. Whoever it may be, I am sure we have either encountered someone like this, or we are this person. I am bringing this message to you today in hopes to motivate you to be the change in your own life, or someone else’s life. In order to achieve the goals and aspirations that we strive to have in our lives, we need to do more, and less talking. As the famous line goes…actions speak louder than words. Be the change, and make a Godly and positive difference. God gives us talents which are intended to be used, not to be hidden.

“For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.”
Ephesians 2:10 NIV

“Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others, as faithful stewards of God’s grace in its various forms. If anyone speaks, they should do so as one who speaks the very words of God. If anyone serves, they should do so with the strength God provides, so that in all things God may be praised through Jesus Christ. To him be the glory and the power for ever and ever. Amen.”
1 Peter 4:10-11 NIV

It was brought upon my heart by the grace of God for us to go over the parable of the bags of gold in the book of Matthew. Parables are used in the Bible, especially in the book of Matthew, to teach us a lesson that we could apply to our lives to have a better relationship with Christ. I believe this parable does apply to the message of being the change. Let us delve into the parable so we can reflect on how it can be applicable to our own lives.

““Again, it will be like a man going on a journey, who called his servants and entrusted his wealth to them. To one he gave five bags of gold, to another two bags, and to another one bag, each according to his ability. Then he went on his journey. The man who had received five bags of gold went at once and put his money to work and gained five bags more. So also, the one with two bags of gold gained two more. But the man who had received one bag went off, dug a hole in the ground and hid his master’s money. “After a long time the master of those servants returned and settled accounts with them. The man who had received five bags of gold brought the other five. ‘Master,’ he said, ‘you entrusted me with five bags of gold. See, I have gained five more.’ “His master replied, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master’s happiness!’ “The man with two bags of gold also came. ‘Master,’ he said, ‘you entrusted me with two bags of gold; see, I have gained two more.’ “His master replied, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master’s happiness!’ “Then the man who had received one bag of gold came. ‘Master,’ he said, ‘I knew that you are a hard man, harvesting where you have not sown and gathering where you have not scattered seed. So I was afraid and went out and hid your gold in the ground. See, here is what belongs to you.’ “His master replied, ‘You wicked, lazy servant! So you knew that I harvest where I have not sown and gather where I have not scattered seed? Well then, you should have put my money on deposit with the bankers, so that when I returned I would have received it back with interest. “ ‘So take the bag of gold from him and give it to the one who has ten bags. For whoever has will be given more, and they will have an abundance. Whoever does not have, even what they have will be taken from them. And throw that worthless servant outside, into the darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.’”
Matthew 25:14-30 NIV

This parable in the Bible can be a great lesson for being the change, and having the ambition and dedication to use the talents and gifts our Heavenly Father blessed us with to make a difference in this world that is in need of a Savior. At the beginning of the parable, it states that the man who was going on a journey only gave bags according to each person’s ability. God knows how much we can handle. He knows our hearts. If Satan throws temptations or hardships that feel like too much to handle, God will give us the needed tools to persevere.

“No temptation has overtaken you except what is common to mankind. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can endure it.”
1 Corinthians 10:13 NIV

“Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others, as faithful stewards of God’s grace in its various forms. If anyone speaks, they should do so as one who speaks the very words of God. If anyone serves, they should do so with the strength God provides, so that in all things God may be praised through Jesus Christ. To him be the glory and the power for ever and ever. Amen.”
1 Peter 4:10-11 NIV

The man on a journey can be compared to our Heavenly Father, the bags can be compared to our gifts and talents, and we would be compared to the servants. This parable is very much relatable to present-day times, as countless of times I have witnessed people, and even myself, be blessed with talents and instead of using them, we keep them to ourselves out of fear. Isn’t that exactly what happened to the servant who only received one bag? He was so afraid, that he hid his bag (talent) thinking that he wasn’t good enough to make more out of it. Doesn’t that hit close to home? I know that one stung a little when I reflected deeply on that thought. God wants us to use our bags (talents), and make an investment out of them. The servant who was given five bags, put them to good use, and made an investment of five more bags! The man who was given two bags, put them to good use, and made an investment of two more bags! It doesn’t matter how big, or small your God-given talent is. What matters is how you decide to use those talent(s). As we read in this parable, when we put our talents to good use, it will be an investment and benefit for not just our lives, but our relationship with Jesus. Isn’t a relationship with Jesus something we should put our hearts and minds towards each and every day? If you said yes to that question, then my proposition for you is to talk to our Heavenly Father right now. Have Him open your eyes to what your God-given talents are, and when He has made them known to you…USE THEM! Do not let fear overtake you like it did the servant with only one bag. Use your bag(s) (talents) to make a difference in this world that is in need of a Savior, and watch how the investment comes into play by having a beautiful relationship with our Heavenly Father. When God makes known to you what your God-given talent is, use it for His good! Use it so when He comes again, He can look at you and say “well done, good and faithful servant!”.

I know I already quoted this verse two times, but I am quoting it a third time to emphasize the importance of being the change in this world, and emphasizing that we need to use our God-given talents to make a true difference.

“Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others, as faithful stewards of God’s grace in its various forms. If anyone speaks, they should do so as one who speaks the very words of God. If anyone serves, they should do so with the strength God provides, so that in all things God may be praised through Jesus Christ. To him be the glory and the power for ever and ever. Amen.”
1 Peter 4:10-11 NIV

Let the above verse truly sink in. Allow the Lord to transform your heart, and give you the courage and strength to pursue His God-given purpose He has in store for you.

I pray over all who are reading this message that they let go of any fear that is holding them captive from using the talents You have blessed them with, Christ Jesus. I pray that we resemble the same attributes of the servants who received two and five bags, and we put our bags (talents) to good use so we can be the change in this world, and allow Your light to shine through us. We know from reading the parable in the book of Matthew that if we use our God-given talents, that we will profit from it by not just making a difference, but by forming a deeper relationship with You, so one day we can hear from You, “well done, good and faithful servant!”.

Amen.