THE DANGER OF INDIFFERENCE
Spiritual Growth
(A Mandate)
Peter’s last challenge to the church was to “grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ” (2 Peter 3:18). Paul said the destiny of every believer is to be conformed to the image of Christ (Romans 8:29). The writer of Hebrews stresses that those who have been believers for a duration of time ought to move from immaturity to maturity, e.g., going from milk to meat; from being a “babe” to being “teachers” (Hebrews 5:11-14).
If an infant is totally self-centered, and completely lacks self-control (with his feelings, emotions and bodily functions), no one gives it a second thought. However, if a decade or two later that individual is still wearing diapers, everyone recognizes normal growth has been arrested, and now an abnormal situation is existing.
Matthew’s Gospel predicts the return of our Lord Jesus Christ as King (Matthew 24:1-25:46). To assist our understanding, he gives eight illustrations designed to inform us about that return and consequently, how we need to prepare now (Matthew 24:32-25:41).
Spiritual Failure
One does not have to possess unusual discernment to conclude something is terribly wrong with the dedication, devotion and deportment of modern Bible believers as compared with their spiritual ancestors of the past. Among contemporary believers, separation from this world, from compromise and from sinful practices, is rapidly disappearing. Spirituality is waning and carnality is pervasive. If there ever was a time to contemplate the dangers of spiritual sloth and carnal indifference, it is now!
Opportunity
The Parable of the Talents is a vivid contrast between those who make use of God’s graces and those who do not. Consider first of all the opportunity God gives to all: “he gave five talents, to another two, and to another one; to every man according to his several ability” (Matthew 25:15).
There is an inequality of human endowment. Five-talent persons are Shakespeare, Michelangelo, Edison, Einstein, etc. Two-talent persons comprise the “hoi polloi,” the vast majority of the masses - most of mankind. One-talent persons are those of limited capacity or those who choose to act that way.
Though unequal in endowment, we do have equality of opportunity. We may all be faithful according to our capacity, e.g., a five-talent person had best produce another five, a two-talent person, another two, etc. All have a “talent,” or grace, no one has been left empty.
Right now Jesus is in a far country (He is on high), and we are awaiting His return. While waiting, it is incumbent upon each of us to exercise our stewardship as evidence of our faithfulness. All blessings, talents, opportunities, come from God, and though we may have few graces, we are accountable for those few. If we use them to God’s glory, our conscience and our God will not condemn us for not having more. Each servant has received a certain capacity to use for our Master’s profit. “Unto everyone of us is given grace according to the measure of the gift of Christ” (Ephesians 4:7). The Lord in His absence, has given us free will and opportunity.
Responsibility
One must consider our opportunity in light of our responsibility (Matthew 25:16-18). “To whomsoever much is given, of him shall be much required” (Luke 12:48). To whom less is given, less is required. The burden is uniquely fitted to the shoulder. What appears “unfair” to the careless, casual observer concerning endowments is actually shortsightedness concerning God’s Plan. In this illustration, the first two personalities showed initiative, labor, industry, while the third demonstrated sloth and indifference.
Reckoning
Our Lord’s reckoning of His servants takes place in the same order as the giving of graces. “After a long time” (Matthew 25:19) is the period between the ascension and His return. Our opportunity to serve therefore, ends at our decease. Our reckoning occurs at His appearing. This illustration is concerned with the past actions of each servant - his lifetime of Christian service.
Consider the first servant. “Well done thou good and faithful servant” (verse 21). He was praised, not for his success, but for his responsible and faithful attention to his trust. “I will make thee ruler...” (Verse 21). “He that is faithful in that which is least is faithful also in much” (Luke 16:10).
Differences in graces make no difference in rewards. “If there be first a willing mind, it is accepted according to that a man hath, and not according to that he hath not.” (2 Corinthians 8:12). We will be judged according to our capacity, not that of someone else.
Two of the three received the same reward, indicating that faithfulness in the use of different graces given is what is required. The third is condemned for his sloth and indifference, not for his lack of graces.
God’s view of success is explained by the widow who gave a farthing. Her love value was highlighted. God’s demand of us is not what treasure, but what faithfulness. God’s scrutiny is not for fame, not for genius, but for faithfulness.
We are living between verses 18 and 19; we are awaiting our own personal reckoning based on our present stewardship.
The third servant (one-talent person) did not purposely do evil, but did nothing. He committed sin by robbing God of service, glory and increase. Whereas the two productive servants were faithful, the third was unfaithful and was therefore unrewarded. He feared failure, never tried to succeed, feared life’s pressures - this paralyzed him with anxiety; he buried his talent.
He may have reasoned, “I only have one talent, why even worry about it?” The five loaves and two fish were minuscule when considered for 5000 souls. However, when they were given to God, they satisfied the multitude. Most of what God does in this world, He does through ordinary souls with few graces, but who are committed and faithful.
Our Lord’s Emphasis
The main emphasis of this parable concerns the soul with one talent. He was not what we would call a bad person. He was not an addict, rapist, murderer or thief. He was responsible to some degree, or would have squandered his talent. However, he lacked imagination, initiative, courage and determination. He did not see that his talent was needed!
Fourteen talents had been offered, but God was angry over the waste of one! Every talent is needed in God’s economy.
This servant thought himself more righteous than his Lord. We can be similarly deceived about our true standing; his judgment was precisely opposite of what he expected. He thought himself to be faithful, but Jesus disagreed: “thou wicked and slothful servant.”
If we have grace, and only keep what we have and do not obtain more, we are hiding our talent and making it barren. It is not enough to keep what we have, we must advance. To live with no aim or purpose, to only maintain the status quo, is to be wicked and slothful. If I hide my treasure on earth, how can I expect to find it in Heaven? What would he have done with much when he accomplished nothing with what he had? What we really are is what we do when left to ourselves!
The lazy servant conceives God as being harsh, capricious, churlish, arbitrary and stern: a God who taxes men beyond their capacity. He thinks of God not as He is, but with his own perverted, distorted conceptions.
Sobering Outcome
Loss and shame are assigned to the coasting Christian, “take therefore the talent from him” (verse 28). Neglected graces are taken away. A physical limb unused, atrophies and loses its power; grace not used is withdrawn. God’s Work will be done by those who are faithful. Israel lost, Gentiles gained. Lot lost, Abraham gained. Esau lost, Jacob gained. Even what he did have was taken away. The spiritually unprofitable will lose the grace he was given for advancement in holiness.
Lessons Learned
1) A man’s reward here is not what he gets, but what he becomes.
2) Wickedness is not only egregious sin, but also includes indifference, sloth, neglect, i.e.: for doing nothing!
3) Working for and walking with God makes us strong; neglect leads to loss and impotence.
4) We do not have so much grace and no more; it must grow or it atrophies and withers.
5) To attempt living as to do no harm is praise fit for a stone, not for a believer.
6) We cannot do the Lord’s Will by fleeing the fight, being paralyzed by fear or by doing nothing.
7) In this parable, Jesus highlights hidden, obscure service: a cup of cold water in His name, feeding the hungry, visiting the prisoner, etc. These are acts of eternal consequence.
8) Every grace given is precious, indispensable, necessary; do not depreciate yours. Use it or lose it!
9) There is waiting a work where only your hands can avail; if you falter, a chord in God’s symphony will fail.
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