Today I’d like to discussed lethargy as it relates to fear. In rereading Matthew 25, I saw something rather convicting. The New Living Translation renders verse 25 like this: “I was afraid I would lose your money, so I hid it in the earth.” So I hid it in the earth! This doesn’t feel like a typical burying; it feels like an investment or trust. It’s one thing to bury something, but this way of putting it harkens to hiding your lamp under a bushel.
This is so terribly frightening. I can clearly see how we can run to the world and hide our talents. Whether we’re looking for validation, affirmation, love, or acceptance. If we seek the world to receive us, we are literally hiding our talents in the earth. It’s investing our talents with a trust for reward. Yikes!
Why Would We Hide Our Talents ?
And why would we do this? If we have the chance for the most amazing adventure in Christ’s love and intimacy, why would we go about investing ourself in the earth? It is real simple: because of our old and false beliefs about God. No condemnation in this, we all have erroneous thoughts of God. We inherited that suspicion in the Garden of Eden, right before we were kicked out. We judge God by who we are, squinting our eyes at Him because we see our humanity, not His divinity.
In the burying of our talents we become lethargic. It’s an unwillingness to do the work to believe Him about who He says He is. We lay back into the laziness of accusation. It is so simple to blame and point the finger. Any couch potato can do that, but who is it that stands against the flow of sewage and subterfuge to have faith that He is who He says He is? Well, this isn’t very common. More often we allow circumstance to tell us who God is. Oh, it’s so evil. And the Bible says, WICKED AND LAZY!
Buried in the Earth
If the only thing that pleases the Lord is to have faith, why would I think this world would assist me in cultivating it? No, the world will only support my indictments against His character. And the masses follow this lazy path of allegations.
The Bible shows that faith comes from two things. The first is to look away unto Jesus, the Author and Finisher of our faith. He is the entire source of all the faith I need. Second, faith comes by hearing and hearing by the Word of God. So to sum this up, life is what you look at and what you listen to. WOW! Literally what you look at and what you listen to determines what you believe. In our decision of what we will hear and look at, we determine our destiny. The choice is the world and what it says, or God and what He says.
The servant who buried his talent in the earth, chose to protect himself from a master he believed would hurt him. He preferred comfort in the dirt of forgetting to the exposure of his heart by laying himself on the line. The engaged heart is always an at-your-own-risk proposition, but it’s a safe bet in the Loving One who entreats us to gamble it all.
A deep breath after this one. An invitation to as much as it is an exposition of the heart. First, turning unto to Jesus to even engage this work of really knowing God. He will provide the strength to step out and invest in reality in a way that will lead to true riches. Thanks John for putting these words down as a compass directing back to the heart of God. It is amazing how quickly at times we can go back to digging that hole in the earth instead of looking up to Him.
So true Seth. God bless you for your open heart and spirit to hear Him and follow. Love you Seth.
Literally what you look at and what you listen to determines what you believe. “Who do you say that I am?” Mt 16:15
Amazing thought isn’t it. Bless you Pauline!
Good word John! It is also because we don’t have a proper understanding of what repent and be baptised is. This means to sever all ties with the world system! Many Christians are still a part of the world system because they have not been taught what it means to come out of the world and be separate!
I agree. When those in the pulpit preach don’t teach separation but rather sameness…well is it any wonder. Bless you William!
How guilty I am! Oh Lord, have mercy!
As are we all! Praise God that the Spirit is committed to bring us out when we choose Life and cry for mercy.
God is so faithful! Your writing this morning confirms what God has given me in Matt. 25:14-30, “and to each according to his own belief.” I have been writing journal for the last 2 years, and in “writing down the vision” the Lord is showing me who I am, and is also showing me I AM, and His faithfulness. In my writing on Feb 2, in part it went like this, “Forgive me Lord for feeling sorry for myself because of expectation, because of justice that I’ve given out, because of what I’ve failed to look at, to look at… Read more »
Wow John, I am under an avalanche of revelation after reading this post. So much to consider.
John
I try not to bury my treasure in the dirt, when I have doubt and unbelief that creeps into my heart, I remember the past and how faithful He has been and I remember what He said in His word. At that moment I ask for forgiveness for allowing doubt and unbelief in my heart. I don’t want to offend Him by not believing Him. The thought will come into my mind not just once but Satan will make several attempts to make God a liar and I run to Jesus.
We have never met…yet here I am described to a “T”! “The servant who buried his talent…chose to protect himself…” “He preferred comfort in the dirt of forgetting to the exposure of his heart by laying himself on the line.” I’d like to believe this isn’t the truth of who I am at all but all to often my thoughts of doubt “is this really You God or are these my thoughts” keep me wallowing in the dirt! You have given me much to ruminate on: “We judge God by who we are.” “Life is what you look at and… Read more »