Talents

A man brought forth his talents to the LORD with a smile. As the talents were placed on the fire to be judged he considered all he had done for the LORD through he years and his smile brightened. However, it quickly faded as some of his most distinguishing moments were incinerated before his eyes. A sermon preached on salvation that resulted in fifteen saved, a spiritual argument with a co-worker in which he had been decisively victorious and a witness to those in the room, a home he had purchased for a widow and her children, and many more were turned to ashes until finally what had started as a reasonably sized offering was reduced to a very small pile of gold.

The man was stunned and turned to Jesus. “I don’t understand LORD. What happened?” “That which burned were things you did in life based on my principles but without my Spirit. That which did not was based on both.”

“What abut the sermon I preached when fifteen people were saved?”
“You prepared the sermon based on gossip you heard about your membership. You did not seek my counsel or my blessings. Those that were saved were honest seekers. I was able to save them because of their willingness not because of your preaching.”

“What about my argument with Bob that was a witness to almost all my co- workers?” “Bob was honestly seeking truth. Had you approached him in meekness you could have shared many of my truths with him. Unfortunately, you approached him in pride.”

“What about the house for the widow and her children?” The man asked. “How many people have you told about that house through the years?” Jesus asked in return.
“Well, several - I wanted it to be a testimony of what you had done.”
“No my child you wanted it to be a testimony of what you had done.”

The man was filled with sorrow as he realized how much of his time on Earth he had wasted for himself. Finally, he asked “LORD what is left?” “That which was not burned were those things which you allowed me to do through you.” The LORD pointed to a portion of the gold. “Here, when you forgave your father after years of hurt and bitterness.”
“But LORD I couldn’t forgive him - you gave me the strength.”

“Here when you led the bible study at the home for the elderly.” “But LORD I didn’t want to do that. You gave me the desire and what to share.”

“Here when you forgave your wife for the sin of adultery.” “LORD that tore me apart I wanted to leave her, it was only by your grace I remained.”

As the LORD continued the man stood wondering why all he had done of his own strength had burned while all that the LORD had done remained.

It was then he noticed that the small pile of gold reflected the perfect image of the LORD.