THE NORTHERN KENTUCKY SEARCHER
"Search the scriptures: for in them ye think ye have eternal life: and they are they which testify of me. " (John 5:39)

VOLUME 3, NUMBER 38, OCTOBER 19, 2003

PROFITABLE

            In Matthew 25 our Lord was on the Mount of Olives (24:3), with his disciples who had come to Him privately.  He had answered the questions they had asked Him concerning the destruction of Jerusalem and His second coming.  He told them several parables that taught the need to be constantly ready, including the parable of the Ten Virgins.  As we get to verse 14 of Matthew 25, Jesus begins a parable that continues through verse 30.  It is a parable familiar to all bible students.  It was the parable of the Talents.

            In the parable the master of a house, before traveling to a far country, called his servants into him and distributed among them talents.  Originally a talent was not a coin, but a measure of weight.  In the time of Jesus, a talent has been estimated to have been worth about $1,000.00.  To one five talents were given, to another two talents, and to a third one talent.  Each was given what his ability would enable him to handle properly.  Keep in mind, in this passage the servants were slaves and as much the property of the master as the money he gave them.  It is apparent that the master expected his money to be put to good use while he was gone.

            When he returned, the master found that the one given five talents had doubled it.  The one given two talents had done the same.  The one given one talent had buried it, and when reckoning time came he gave back to the master just the one talent, not multiplied or increased in any way.  He gave excuses that were entirely unacceptable, and the master said, “Thou wicked and slothful servant, thou knewest that I reap where I sowed not, and gather where I have not strawed:   thou oughtest therefore to have put my money to the exchangers, and then at my coming I should have received mine own with usury.  Take therefore the talent from him, and give it unto him which hath ten talents.  For unto every one that hath shall be given, and he shall have abundance: but from him that hath not shall be taken away even that which he hath.  And cast ye the unprofitable servant into outer darkness: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.”

            Brethren, each of us is a servant, a slave of the Lord Jesus Christ.  To each of us He has given certain talents (I am using that word to refer to gifts and abilities that God has blessed us with).  These talents are as much the property of the Lord as we are.  Jesus expects us to use the talents He has given us properly.  No one of us is expected or asked to do more than the talents Jesus has given us will enable us to do.

            Not everyone is a writer, or bible class teacher.  Not everyone can lead singing.  Not everyone can preach a lesson.  Not everyone will be able to ultimately become an elder.  But every one of us can do something.  Most of the time it is simply a matter of setting our priorities, putting Jesus first and everything else second.  It is just a matter of doing what we are capable of doing in His service.

            On Saturday, November 1, we will be gathering at the church building at 9:00 am.  As you already know, we will be cleaning the building and distributing invitations (1,500 of them) in a nearby neighborhood that we have not canvassed as of yet.  The work is made easier and can be carried out more efficiently based upon the number of people that show up ready to work.  Every one of us can do something on that day.  We can clean.  If we can walk, we can distribute invitations.  For that matter, if we cannot do those things, we can sit with the children of those who can to free them up to do the work.  There is no more important work than the work of the spreading the gospel, and this is one way to use whatever talents God has given to us in His service.

            In the parable of the talents, do you know what was the real difference between the servants?  It was not that the two given more talents were just simply more gifted.  Even with their talents they could have been lazy and slothful.  It was not that they were particularly brilliant or great businessmen and the other was not.  It was just that two of them had been faithful servants of their master and had done the best they could with the ability they possessed.

            What about you?  When this coming meeting is over, will you be able to look in the mirror and say, “I did the very best that I could do?”

                                                            Greg Litmer

RELIGION AND POLITICS

            I’ve heard many people say, ‘I don’t discuss religion or politics!”  I know these can be touchy and divisive topics.  Politics is hard to discuss because it can involve many personal opinions about who we support in an election or what political party we belong to.  Truth in religion, however, is not in the realm of opinion.  There is a right and a wrong.  We all have access to God’s Word, the Bible, to determine if we believe what God teaches or what man teaches.  We may be afraid (or already know) that we do not believe all that the Bible teaches.  Ignoring the truth and refusing to discuss it will not make it go away.

                        Via The Lakeland Hill Leader