In Matthew 25, Jesus tells the story of the parable of the talents.  Each servant is given a number of talents to hold while the master is away.  Two of them use their talents to gain more while one buries his talent.

 I was afraid and went out and hid your talent in the ground. 

— Matt. 25:25

To this the master took the original talent from the servant and had him thrown “into the darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth” (Matt. 25:30).  All of us have been given some special talent and purpose.  “Just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve” (Matt. 20:28), we are to use our gift for a greater purpose serving others.

Don’t let fears of failure, embarrassment, other people and the unknown dictate your actions.  Pursue those opportunities that have been presented to you, using the gifts and talents that you have been given and look forward to being surprised by the results.

“Anything can happen” (when you believe)
       
— Mr. Magorium, MMWE

Believe

After years of working the same job and doing the same thing, it’s easy to fall into a stagnant, mind-numbing state of being.  It may be hard to believe that anything will ever change.  You go to work—you see the same people.  You go to church—you see the same people.  You come home—you see the same people (or not), and nothing changes.

In the bowels of the winepress, Gideon spoke like many of us have done or have wanted to, “If the Lord is with us, why has all this happened to us (or me)?” (Judg. 6:13).

Gideon may not have believed that the Lord had greater plans to use him and had just resigned to live his days out hiding from the Midianites.  In the movie, Molly shared similar sentiments, “It’s just what it is, nothing more.”  Have you ever had similar thoughts?  I have wondered to myself if there was “anything more.”  At times I have felt as if I am the only Christian on earth that hadn’t been given his “working papers.”

Gideon, like many of us, needed proof before believing, “If you are truly going to help me, show me a sign to prove that it is really the Lord speaking to me” (Judg. 6:17).  And the Lord did.

“Then Gideon said to God, ‘If you are truly going to use me to rescue Israel as you promised, prove it to me in this way …” (Judg. 6:36).  And the Lord did.

“Then Gideon said to God, ‘Please don’t be angry with me, but let me make one more request.  This time …’” (Judg. 6:39).  And the Lord once again had patience with Gideon and showed him that it was indeed the Lord speaking.

Again, I can see myself in Gideon.  Even though I have seen the Lord work in my life time and time again, I still find myself questioning if it is truly the Lord working.