Luke 19:20-21 "Master, here's your money safe and sound. I kept it hidden in the cellar. To tell you the truth, I was a little afraid. I know you have high standards and hate sloppiness, and don't s suffer fools gladly."
Continuing with the Servants and the Talents series meditation this week. I'm going to say the conclusion of today's meditation- Fear makes us stop. But God's life, makes us move. The difference between frozen state, and lively moving state.
What the servant above says is so devastating to me, because it is so ironic. If he thought God had such high standards, why did he keep the money from God in a cellar, hidden? Not doing anything with it? If he was afraid of Master, why did he just keep still? Ultimately, whose standards is this man talking about? Is it really God's? I do not exactly know how his logistics are working, but somehow I understand. It was because he was scared. Hurt, feared, insecure from past. Or wrong perspective about God. The point is that he was "afraid" to be rejected by people, world to say NO to him, or merely failing to use that money for good. So he decided to NOT DO ANYTHING and lay around in bed. Hiding the life, money, talent, that was given for granted. I mean, do you think he even prayed amongst that time? I assume not, because he obviously did not know exactly the characteristics of God.
You know what, I understand this man 100%. But only the part where he was afraid so he decided not to be prolific. It's like I know my grades are updated online but because I am so afraid to see it I don't click on it until the last minute. Yes. This man waited until the last minute when Master came back, and he was, well, too late. The part I don't understand is that if I was him I would work my butt off to really use that money to even make two out of one. But during the meditation that "standard" that the servant had, lived inside me for the longest time. And it's not God's, of course, but it's mine. And it's infinitely high that is ridiculous. And I believe, even in you, who are reading this, have some kind of standards that might not be necessarily made by you but your parents, your dark past, people around you, media, the world, the lies.... And they make you, what? Yes. FREEZE. So you do not do ANYTHING for God. How scary is that. Just to live a day like a hamster in a cage running the treadmill over and over again, being obsessed about what to eat, how to earn money, and what to wear.
But there is good news. The metaphor says this is money, but this means life. The servant could not have lived without the money that the Master gave before he left. God gave us part of his life so we can LIVE. And here, living means not only just breathing (of course thank Jesus for that), but to ACT and LIVE for God. Getting up from the lethargies, regrets, hurt, past, fear, and doing the smallest thing in my day today with such love. I mean, think about it, what would have these servants have done with this money (this money was a payment for about 100 days which is pretty big), do a business? donate to homeless? sell food and clothes? Whichever it is, they shared. Only sharing makes it twice and triple larger. Meaning, we have to live today to use our talents to share. It might not be necessarily monetizing term, but to give and show and share.
Or, simply, just practice and discipline your talents in your small room. Just doing it. For me, I draw, paint, everyday, and edit photos, and write. Then share online. Send to people. Why? Because the Master is returning. We cannot do NOTHING until he tells us to "do this" or "go there," before that, we are preparing. Because without preparation when he calls us we will be like "oh I'm not ready because I do not have this or I am not talented enough," that's exactly what the darkness wants. We need to be getting ready EVERYDAY. Small steps at a time. So we are ready to say "yes" when we actually asks what to do or go here and there for his name sake. Meaning, we need to get up and prepare ourselves today for his coming. That is our reward. I mean, what a brilliant, amazing reward- compared to what this world says reward- a house? a car? a fame? They will not even last a short time as fly's life. He is coming back to see what we have in our hands through his generously given- talent, life, gift, and light. That is the purpose of life.
I encourage you to break your fear. If you are frozen in one state where you are thinking like thousand thoughts but cannot act, it means you are stopped. Because your hands and feet are not moving. Moving your thoughts is not, unfortunately, living. That exists ultimately to act upon. Not just leaving as thoughts. Another bad news is that, when you keep thoughts for too long- they become worries. Darkness love to play with your thoughts and drag down again with them so you will not act.
Get up, move, and live. Share. You have his life. That is all you need and you have everything.
God bless you today!