The Great Expectation of God
Making the Most of What God Has Given.
“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.”
Each year, most of us take the time to reflect on the happenings of the previous year. However, 2020 seemed to be the epitome of failed expectations. By January 1, 2021, we'd come to terms with the highs and what seemed like constant lows of 2020. In some instances, we reflect on the things we lost. In other cases, we ponder things revealed to us, and we almost always allow those two to shape what we expect in the year ahead. But how many of us have asked, What did I do with what God gave me in 2020?
“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.”
Matthew 25: 19-29 NIV
In Matthew 25: 14- 29, Jesus tells us of a master and three servants. Like each of us, the servants receive an opportunity, an increase in responsibility but at varying levels. The bible tells us " each according to his ability.". Meaning, each servant had an opportunity to do more with what the master had given them. In 2020, were you like the first servant who went immediately to turn five bags into ten? Were you like the second who saw what the first did and followed his blueprint for success?
Or were you like the last who was paralyzed by fear? Hoarding that which the master provided you. Thus, digging your grave by burying that which God has told us to multiply.
Is it possible that instead of expecting more from God in 2021, we should expect to do more with what God has already given us? To be fruitful and multiply our time, talent, or resources according to our abilities? Each servant that produced an increase received more. They were called good and faithful. However, the one who allowed fear to determine his decision was called wicked and lazy. We are not blessed for ourselves alone. We are blessed so that we may be a blessing to others by sharing what God has poured into us. In doing so, we act as witnesses to the goodness of God and grow the Kingdom.
In 2021, it is my prayer that we are blessed not only because of our expectations of God but by honoring God’s expectations for us. If God has given you the ability, I challenge you to use it to its full capacity. Or as I like to say "Bloom where you are planted." As we come to learn in Matthew 25:21 those who do well with a few will be given many.
Questions to Reflect On
Which of the servants do you see yourself in and why?
What did you do with what God gave you in 2020?
What ability do you have that you could be doing more with for God in 2021?
What commitment can you make to God in the 1st quarter of this year?