All we have to do is turn on the TV, flip through social media, or take a close look at our own lives to see how different the kingdom of this world is from the kingdom of heaven. Yet can I be honest with you?
I don’t always know what to do when I encounter someone in need. There have been days where I fiddle with my radio and try not to make eye contact with someone who is having a hard time. I’ve always wrestled, going back and forth between dreading an awkward encounter and wanting others to see Jesus in me. Do you ever feel the same?
With our eyes on the wrong kingdom, it’s easy to believe the things that matter are our next promotion or how many influential friends we’re able to collect. But all the while, the clock is ticking. In Matthew 25, Jesus tells two parables. There are ten virgins waiting on the groom and three servants who are given money to invest by their master.
In each story, the virgins and servants are given something of value. For the virgins, it was their lamps, which some brought oil for and others didn’t (Matthew 25:3–4). The master’s servants were given various numbers of talents. Two invested theirs, while one buried his in fear (vv.16–18). Both parables include a time of waiting. Both the groom and master come back when they’re least expected. Ultimately, the virgins who failed to come prepared miss out on the celebration. The servant who didn’t invest what He had lost everything.
Their action, investment, and preparation for the kingdom mattered. The same goes for us.
Friend, what are we doing with the gifts we’ve been given? Are we hiding, afraid of feeling awkward because we don’t know the right thing to do? Do we only think about helping when someone is right in front of us, or when the need feels easy to meet? What if our moments of discomfort are actually opportunities to consider how to share God’s kindness, beyond just the immediate moment? Jesus reminds us in Matthew 25:40, “Whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.'”
We don’t know when Jesus will return. But Scripture reminds us there is no time to waste. This gospel we have is the truth our world desperately needs. So what will we do with the time we have?
God is great
Always work to be ready
Amen. Let me use my gifts daily
Good Morning She’s! Reading through comments and am blessed by your words. Praying for each prayer request mentioned. CAROL, praying for your daughter and son-in-love. And for you and those around you as you encourage and pray and minister to them.
Thank you for sharing in the SRT community. I am challenged and encouraged by all the comments and prayer support. May we all find ways to share the blessing of knowing Christ as our savior to those around us! We truly our rich, let’s not keep this wealth to ourselves!
A good reminder to be diligent and intentional about all the moments of our lives. At the end of the year I always do a big project with my students and this year I think I’m going to try and figure out how I could do a community outreach project and help them figure out ways they could reach their community. Still mulling it over and seeing if it’s a reality but I think it would be so cool!
I am praying for each request I’ve read here tonight. Blessings to each of you and those you hold dear.
Happy Friday shes :) We got a big snow day today :)
Matthew 25 was one of my favorite chapters to visit and meditate on. I remember a testimony of someone that God once gave a dream, a child actually, and it was Matthew 25 that the Lord gave to this child to share with others. I have adored this text and cherished it with all my heart. I see the spectrum of humanity described metaphorically in Matthew 25, wise to foolish, skillful & hardworking for God’s kingdom to the slothful and cowardly. The church is comprised of the foolish crowd and the wise crowd, both the diligent and those pretending to be busy. The foolish will always try to ask for the grace of the wise. Each time I read this parable something new and profound was revealed, today, the thing that the Holy Spirit pointed to… is to SAY NO to the foolish crowd within the believer’s community. Isn’t the Lord stern? The tendency of “people pleasing” within me started objecting, how could I, isn’t that so rude Lord? No it’s not rude. You must say no at some point, or you will be completely without any oil. The Lord recently led me to finish a book called “The Best yes” by Lysa Terkeurst (great and fun read), and He taught me through the wisdom of the book of saying no in our practical life within the church community. I highly recommend if you are like me, I am somewhat a high performer personality who likes to outperform a task, I find it so hard to say no to several requests from church, especially from church leaders who might “demand” in the name of the Lord. Yesterday we learnt about the Pharisees who crush people with many demands/burdens without doing anything to help (Matthew 23:4). My recent “church hurt” was from this experience that this verse warns us, i fell into a depression for two years plus because of the betrayal and use of the pharisees in my community that i failed to realize. I wish none of you has to experience what I had. Say no to your “foolish virgins”, whatever form they might come in, even the Lord himself shut the door on them, saying “I never knew you”. Being Christlike is what we must be, NOT people pleasing. God does not say yes to everyone! Be kind but FIRM!
Praying for you dear shes @Kimberly Z, Carol M, Alayna, for strength and comfort and the families going through hurt/grief.
@Mari V, how is your car situation? I kept thinking about you, hopefully you have a vehicle to get around, and prepped for court.
Be blessed dear sisters. I hope you all have a fantastic weekend.