Within the last week, I had two friends lose loved ones and 8 months ago, I lost my 21 year old cousin in a drowning accident. I am reminded just how short life can be and at any moment we could breathe our last breath. The Bible says, “Yet you do not know what your life will be like tomorrow. You are just a vapor that appears for a little while and then vanishes away” (James 4:14 NASB). This means, one minute we could be alive and in the twinkling of an eye we could be standing before Almighty God giving an account for the life we lived while on earth. The Scriptures say,
“Again, the Kingdom of Heaven can be illustrated by the story of a man going on a long trip. He called together his servants and entrusted his money to them while he was gone. He gave five bags of silver to one, two bags of silver to another, and one bag of silver to the last—dividing it in proportion to their abilities. He then left on his trip. “The servant who received the five bags of silver began to invest the money and earned five more. The servant with two bags of silver also went to work and earned two more. But the servant who received the one bag of silver dug a hole in the ground and hid the master’s money. “After a long time their master returned from his trip and called them to give an account of how they had used his money. The servant to whom he had entrusted the five bags of silver came forward with five more and said, ‘Master, you gave me five bags of silver to invest, and I have earned five more.’ “The master was full of praise. ‘Well done, my good and faithful servant. You have been faithful in handling this small amount, so now I will give you many more responsibilities. Let’s celebrate together!’ “The servant who had received the two bags of silver came forward and said, ‘Master, you gave me two bags of silver to invest, and I have earned two more.’ “The master said, ‘Well done, my good and faithful servant. You have been faithful in handling this small amount, so now I will give you many more responsibilities. Let’s celebrate together!’ “Then the servant with the one bag of silver came and said, ‘Master, I knew you were a harsh man, harvesting crops you didn’t plant and gathering crops you didn’t cultivate. I was afraid I would lose your money, so I hid it in the earth. Look, here is your money back.’ “But the master replied, ‘You wicked and lazy servant! If you knew I harvested crops I didn’t plant and gathered crops I didn’t cultivate, why didn’t you deposit my money in the bank? At least I could have gotten some interest on it.’ “Then he ordered, ‘Take the money from this servant, and give it to the one with the ten bags of silver. To those who use well what they are given, even more will be given, and they will have an abundance. But from those who do nothing, even what little they have will be taken away. Now throw this useless servant into outer darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth’” (Matthew 2514-30 NLT).
The servants were entrusted with resources from their master and he went away without letting them know when he would return. Two of the servants invested their money and came back with double, while one man hid his money and actually lost money for his master. He did not even put the money in the bank for interest. The master was upset and threw the man into outer darkness because he was not responsible with what was given to him.
Are you and I using the gifts, talents and abilities God has given us to further His Kingdom or our own? Each of us will give an account of what we did with our lives one day. The one servant came up with excuses why he did not use the money wisely. Are you making excuses why you are not living for God? The master came back at an undisclosed time in the parable. In the same way, Jesus is coming back at an hour when you least expect Him or eventually you will die and face God at a time maybe when you were not prepared. At that point it will be too late to make changes to the life you lived on earth…you will face God and give an account for what was given to you. Some people get up thinking they have their whole life ahead of them, and it is their last moments on earth. Will you make your life count? Will you follow God and be obedient to His plan? The Apostle Paul accomplished what God asked him to do. “As for me, my life has already been poured out as an offering to God. The time of my death is near. I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, and I have remained faithful. And now the prize awaits me—the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will give me on the day of his return. And the prize is not just for me but for all who eagerly look forward to his appearing” (2 Timothy 4:6-8 NLT). He faced many challenges along his journey, but he finished the task God asked him to do. Are you running your race well? If not, I pray you will get back in the race. Ask God to forgive you for the mistakes you have made, dust yourself off and keep running. God is full of mercy for those who will trust Him and walk with Him! He can even turn your mistakes into trophies of His grace, by using your past failures to help someone else out of the dumps! The key is to get back in the game and let God lead your life! You can make it! You can overcome all challenges that come between you and your destiny! Everyone will face death, unless Jesus comes back. Use your gifts and talents to further the Kingdom of God…invest in eternity! Life is too short to waste it.
