David Bahn – Reflections

Matthew 25:14-30

“For it will be like a man going on a journey, who called his servants and entrusted to them his property. 15 To one he gave five talents, to another two, to another one, to each according to his ability. Then he went away. 16 He who had received the five talents went at once and traded with them, and he made five talents more. 17 So also he who had the two talents made two talents more.18 But he who had received the one talent went and dug in the ground and hid his master’s money.19 Now after a long time the master of those servants came and settled accounts with them. 20 And he who had received the five talents came forward, bringing five talents more, saying, ‘Master, you delivered to me five talents; here I have made five talents more.’ 21 His master said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant. You have been faithful over a little; I will set you over much. Enter into the joy of your master.’ 22 And he also who had the two talents came forward, saying, ‘Master, you delivered to me two talents; here I have made two talents more.’ 23 His master said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant. You have been faithful over a little; I will set you over much. Enter into the joy of your master.’ 24 He also who had received the one talent came forward, saying, ‘Master, I knew you to be a hard man, reaping where you did not sow, and gathering where you scattered no seed,25 so I was afraid, and I went and hid your talent in the ground. Here you have what is yours.’ 26 But his master answered him, ‘You wicked and slothful servant! You knew that I reap where I have not sown and gather where I scattered no seed? 27 Then you ought to have invested my money with the bankers, and at my coming I should have received what was my own with interest. 28 So take the talent from him and give it to him who has the ten talents. 29 For to everyone who has will more be given, and he will have an abundance. But from the one who has not, even what he has will be taken away. 30 And cast the worthless servant into the outer darkness. In that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.’

If the Prime Minister invites you to join the celebration in honor of his niece’s 12th birthday, or the CEO of a Fortune 500 company invites you to his son’s high school graduation, or your best friend is getting ready to marry the man of her dreams (and he is truly a good man): in any of these cases you will surely want to go to the party. To enter into such a joyful occasion would be a great honor and delightful experience.

We have an even greater joyful occasion to join when the King of the Universe (no mere Emperor of the World) invites us to enter into his joy. To enter into the joy of God has to do with embracing all that he has done for us and all people, to appreciate his desire for our salvation, love and faithful service, and to experience his grace first hand – knowing that it is his essential, unwavering, unconditional love and goodness that fuels that desire for all of us.

You may not really want to go to the company back-to-school bash. You may not be all that excited about being invited to Aunt Irma’s garden club tea. Your cousin may invite you to his birthday party only to get a present from you. And if your idea of heaven involves cherubs, harps, and clouds, you might not be very excited about going. But God invites us into his presence for the purpose of celebrating his love and our salvation. The angels will join in the celebration with all of creation. Jesus has paved the way for us, and will be the guest of honor. That will be a joyful day to be sure. I’m looking forward to it. How about you?