ARE YOU BEING ACCOUNTABLE FOR YOUR ASSIGNMENT?

“I have glorified You on the earth. I have finished the work which You have given Me to do.”—John 17:4
 
In the parable of the talents, the master gave three servants an assignment to carry out in his absence, along with the resources to accomplish it. Upon his return, he asked for an accounting of what they'd done.
 
For the kingdom of heaven is like a man traveling to a far country, who called his own servants and delivered his goods to them. And to one he gave five talents, to another two, and to another one, to each according to his own ability; and immediately he went on a journey.  Then he who had received the five talents went and traded with them, and made another five talents.  And likewise he who had received two gained two more also.  But he who had received one went and dug in the ground, and hid his lord’s money.  After a long time the lord of those servants came and settled accounts with them.  So he who had received five talents came and brought five other talents, saying, ‘Lord, you delivered to me five talents; look, I have gained five more talents besides them.’  His lord said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant; you were faithful over a few things, I will make you ruler over many things. Enter into the joy of your lord.’  He also who had received two talents came and said, ‘Lord, you delivered to me two talents; look, I have gained two more talents besides them.’ His lord said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant; you have been faithful over a few things, I will make you ruler over many things.  Enter into the joy of your lord.’  Then he who had received the one talent came and said, ‘Lord, I knew you to be a hard man, reaping where you have not sown, and gathering where you have not scattered seed.   And I was afraid, and went and hid your talent in the ground.  Look, there you have what is yours.’   But his lord answered and said to him, ‘You wicked and lazy servant, you knew that I reap where I have not sown, and gather where I have not scattered seed.   So you ought to have deposited my money with the bankers, and at my coming I would have received back my own with interest.  Therefore take the talent from him, and give it to him who has ten talents.  For to everyone who has, more will be given, and he will have abundance; but from him who does not have, even what he has will be taken away.  And cast the unprofitable servant into the outer darkness.  There will be weeping and gnashing of teeth’” ( Matthew 25:14-30).
 
From this parable, we can understand several principles about the Christian life.  First, God has chosen us to be His servants.  Second, He has prepared an assignment for us to do, and He supplies the things and abilities that we will need to achieve it. Some of what we are to do apply to all believers—such as loving Him through thru loving people, and making disciples. He gives us specific assignments to us, utilizing our personal talents and skills.  Finally, the Lord blesses those who obey Him. Pleased by the obedience of two servants, the master, in Matthew 25:14-30, passage recompensed them accordingly.  In a similar way, we are promised a heavenly reward for our faithful service.
 
Being a good steward of what God has entrusted to us is a serious matter. He wants us to invest in His kingdom plan rather than over committing time to earthly matters or overspending on the pursuit of pleasure. You might wonder about the third servant.  The master was very disappointed in the servant’s attitude towards being accountable for his assignment.  He did nothing with his talent and was cast out of his master's presence. This cannot happen to believers, for we are permanently adopted into God's family.  But the Lord will hold us accountable for all that we do, “So then each of us shall give account of himself [herself] to God” (Romans 14:12). 
 
With the Holy Spirit's help, we can move past our self-centered ways to carry out God's assignment.   If you do not know what your assignment is, ask Him to reveal it to you, and for His help in carrying out the assignment.
 
Prayer—Father I ask You to clearly show me what my assignment is and for strength my talents and abilities to carry it out, in Jesus Name.  Amen.