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Is It Asking Too Much?

by Steve Countryman  
5/27/2011 / Christian Living

Matthew 25:20-30 20The man who had received the five talents brought the other five. 'Master,' he said, 'you entrusted me with five talents. See, I have gained five more.' 21"His master replied, 'Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master's happiness!' 22"The man with the two talents also came. 'Master,' he said, 'you entrusted me with two talents; see, I have gained two more.' 23"His master replied, 'Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master's happiness!' 24"Then the man who had received the one talent came. 'Master,' he said, 'I knew that you are a hard man, harvesting where you have not sown and gathering where you have not scattered seed. 25So I was afraid and went out and hid your talent in the ground. See, here is what belongs to you.' 26"His master replied, 'You wicked, lazy servant! So you knew that I harvest where I have not sown and gather where I have not scattered seed? 27Well then, you should have put my money on deposit with the bankers, so that when I returned I would have received it back with interest. 28" 'Take the talent from him and give it to the one who has the ten talents. 29For everyone who has will be given more, and he will have an abundance. Whoever does not have, even what he has will be taken from him. 30And throw that worthless servant outside, into the darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.'

I have read this parable many times but only lately have I viewed it from a different perspective. It doesn't just refer to money but also to what we all as Christians have received as part of our salvation. We have been entrusted with the seed of the Spirit which is Jesus Christ who lives and dwells in us. We are to reflect His love and share the Gospel with the world. It is what we will be held accountable for. What did you do with the gift of salvation of Jesus Christ that you received? Is it asking too much?

I keep finding myself asking the same questions about the lack of moving and manifestation of the Holy Spirit through us His children. God revealed to me that it comes down to what we do with that which God has entrusted to us. We are to take the seed of His Spirit and share it with others. We must step out in faith and put our faith to work which allows God's power and love to flow through us. We take the weaknesses that we have, which God is made strong in, and step out in that faith which allows God's power and authority to be magnified through us. Sounds simple enough but we do not follow through with it. Is it asking too much?

We sing praises in worship services about God's greatness like "How Great Is Our God", "How Great Thou Art", "Great Is the Lord" and "Great Is Thy Faithfulness" but sing them as just words. They are more than words. Our God is more than words. How can we his children sing praises to Him on Sundays and forget about God on Mondays? How can we sing about God's greatness and not share it with others? How can we sing about God's greatness and not give God the opportunity to prove it? Is it asking too much?

We are to do that which we can do to invoke, encourage, welcome and invite the Holy Spirit to do though us that which we cannot do. It all starts with us stepping out in faith and allowing God to do the rest. We have to be actively engaged daily "going about the Father's business". Think about all the reasons why you don't step out, and I'm as guilty as the next person. It ALL comes down to how we feel about stepping out in faith, courage and boldness. We look at what the impact will be on us and take our eyes off of Jesus. We turn it into all about us. "What will others think?" What if I make a big fool of myself?" "What will my friends and family think?" "How can I find time to do any of this?" Isn't this something that other more mature stronger Christians who are better trained should be doing?" "Should I get involved?" "What if God doesn't show up?" "But I don't feel anything special coming over me to try this." Does fear of man rule in your life or does faith in God rule? Is it asking too much?

"God works in mysterious ways His wonders to perform." God's timing is always perfect. Even if you step out in faith and declare God's will with power and authority that Jesus Christ has given you doesn't mean that the sick and lame will be instantly healed. There may be other issues that the person who needs the healing may have to deal with first that allows God's healing power to flow through them. One thing is for certain, that it starts with you each and every time. You have no choice but to keep stepping out in faith and let God honor your faith in action by showing up and doing the miraculous. All of the pressure is on God not on you just as it is all about what God can do not what you can do. Is it asking too much?

Luke 12:48 From everyone who has been given much, much will be demanded; and from the one who has been entrusted with much, much more will be asked. How can God trust us with bigger things to do if He can't trust us to do the small things first? How can we say "why isn't God moving powerfully through me?" when God is asking you why aren't you moving at all? God waits for His children to step out so that God can step in! We were created by God for God's pleasure. Our lives are not our own. Is it asking too much for us God's children to step out in faith once each and every day and let God touch the life of another person who needs His touch? For we should be able to ignore the world around us and give a little of our time and effort to someone who could use a blessing today? Like those "pass it on" commercials aimed at the world when we God's children should be the example people think of when they see kindness and love being shown. Is it asking too much?

For you, His child, are being watched by others daily to see how "that God thing is working for you". How the world sees the church is a direct reflection on us the church body. When they look at us do they see anything that is worth changing their lives for? If you picture each one of us, the church body, as holding a large mirror in front of us what does the world see when they looks at us? When we are holding the mirror level at them they see a reflection of their own type of lives full of despair, pain, hurt, suffering, divorce, abortion, lying, cheating, fornication and all manner of sin in the church today. What they should see is us the church body as we have our eyes upward on Jesus and the mirror tilted upward to heaven which allows Christ to be reflected to others through our daily lives. Then they would see hope, peace, joy, forgiveness, mercy and love all found in Jesus. Is it asking too much???

My prayer Dear Father God, light the fire of the Holy Spirit in each and everyone of us today. Let your Holy Spirit shine brightly and powerfully through us each day. Help us Father by taking away the fear and doubt that the World and Satan uses to keep us powerless and replace it with your super faith and trust along with your courage and boldness. That we will do those little things of faith that allows you to perform the incredible, outrageous, miraculous and awesome through us your children. Use us Father as your instruments and vessels to reach the lost and bring you all the glory. It is time to let the world know that we serve a great and wonderful God by allowing you to prove it. Thank you Lord for honoring our prayers as we declare your Word to the world. We ask these things in the powerful name that is above all names, Jesus. Amen!!

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