“Full Potential”
(Matthew 25)
Most people can identify a favorite teacher from their educational
journey. Mr. Stuitje fills that role for me. He taught 7th and 8th
grade history at my Middle School. He also served as the 8th-grade homeroom
advisor and basketball coach. I distinctly remember one day in class when he
asked me a question. I had not been paying attention. He came right over to my
desk and picked up my notebook, which did not have notes about the historical
period being studied, but had doodle upon doodle in the margins. He told me to
stop selling myself short. He said, “If you could focus and value your
potential, you would do much better in school.” This struck me at this moment.
It also challenged me and hurt a little bit. He does not gain the title of one
of my favorite teachers because I remember anything from history class, but
because he saw something in me and challenged me to live up to my potential.
On the third day of Holy Week, Jesus taught many things.
Some of this teaching happened later in the day as Jesus sat on the Mount of
Olives with his disciples. The disciples encourage Jesus to look at all the
buildings. Jesus says, “I tell you the truth, not one of these stones will be
left on another; every one will be thrown down.” The disciples want to know
more. Jesus shares with them the truth of some upcoming tribulation for the
nation of Israel. Jesus moves on from this to discuss the coming of the Son of
Man: the time when God will send his Messiah in final victory over all evil. After
this discussion, Jesus tells three parables. Each parable's message builds upon
the previous parable’s message. These parables help us understand how to live while
we wait for God’s final victory. Collectively, they help Jesus’s followers see
their potential as those redeemed by God.
In the first parable, Jesus tells of 10 virgin maids who
await the arrival of the Bridegroom. A typical practice in first-century
Israeli weddings included the bride and her attendants waiting for the groom to
arrive at the bride’s home.[1]
This waiting often came with delays because of the many preparations the groom’s
family had to make for the wedding. Each maiden would come with lamps or
torches because of their necessity for the procession. These lamps or torches
required an abundance of oil. Therefore, the bride’s friends would have to come
with abundant oil. In the parable, Jesus shares that only half of the maidens brought
enough oil. The rest came unprepared. They had to get more oil. As they did so,
the groom arrived and the wedding procession occurred. The unprepared maidens
did not get to join in the celebration. The lesson of this first parable is to
be prepared for the Lord’s return every moment. But what does it look like to
be prepared?
The second parable answers this question. In this parable, a
landowner entrusts pieces of his wealth to servants while he travels. He gives them
each different amounts. The first two, who had received 10 talents and 5
talents respectively, invested the master’s wealth. The third, buried the
wealth. Upon the master’s return, he asks them about his wealth. The two who
had invested the talents show the increase they have gained. The one who had buried
his talent offers an excuse as to why he did not invest the money – he feared
the master. The master expresses severe disappointment in this man and takes
away the talent he had given him.
Jesus tells the parable to help us know what it looks like
to be prepared for his return. God has blessed each of us with an abundance of
resources. He has given some of us wealth. He has blessed all of us with some
sort of skill. He grants us the ability to learn and then apply that learning
to create amazing things. He gives us this creation in which we reside. God
expects us to invest what he has entrusted to us. We should steward all the
amazing gifts he has given. We should use them for his kingdom’s purposes. This
will enable an amazing increase. Do not hide or bury the gifts God has granted.
Stewarding the gifts God has blessed us with enables us to be prepared for the
return of Christ, whenever that might occur.
So, we have all these gifts. How then shall we invest them? Jesus
tells a third story. He describes the Son of Man coming to judge. As part of
that judgment, he separates people, calling some sheep and others goats. The
sheep go to his right and the goats to his left. The sheep receive the
inheritance of the kingdom. The goats do not. Why? The sheep, out of their
natural compassion, care for those who have experienced injustice. They feed
the hungry, give drink to the thirsty, visit the imprisoned, clothe the naked,
and welcome the stranger. The goats failed at these activities of generous
living.
In this prophetic tale, Jesus reveals how we should invest
the many gifts, talents, and resources God has blessed us with. We should use
them to bring about justice in the world. Jesus’s kingdom people naturally live
generous, hospitable, and loving lives. Through the grace he provides through
Jesus Christ, God has created, in his kingdom, people with the full potential
to sacrificially care for others.
The time of Christ’s return will come! When it comes, we
must be prepared. We reveal our preparation by investing what God has given us
for the benefit of other people. We offer justice. We give food, drink,
shelter, clothing, and companionship to those in need. We continue to do this
while we wait for our Lord to come, set creation right, and reign over all
things.
Prayer: O Lord,
we long for your return. We cannot wait until the moment when you will come and
set all things right. We anticipate your kingdom in its fullness. We are
impatient for resurrection. While we wait, Lord, enable our preparedness. Helps
us know the generous gifts you have granted to us. Guide us as we steward those
gifts in such a manner that your kingdom grows. Help us invest them in acts of
justice. Open our eyes and arms so that we can embrace and care for everyone.
Enliven us with your love as we wait. We expectantly pray these things in Jesus
Christ’s Holy Name, Amen!
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