In the twenty-fifth chapter of Matthew Jesus tells the story of three men who were given financial responsibilities while there supervisor was away. When he returned, the man who did not process his one talent to bring in more funds was punished. The other two men who did barter their talents and gained profit were given praise.
I believe we have yet to give the man with two talents the justice that he deserves. He can be called the average man. He was not blessed with abundance or stricken with poverty. Still, in his own way he accomplished much. He certainly can be praised over the one who predestined himself to be a failure. Most of us have come to realize we are like the second-place man. In our modern world we are middle-class in character and abilities. Since there are only a few in front place in life, we should mention the lessons learned from the average man in the story that Jesus told.
We have a Christ given entrustment to do God’s service. Should we think ourselves less because we have not made fantastic accomplishment for God such as being a famous preacher or famous writer, we would be dishonoring ourselves to God by depreciating exactly who we are in his service. Any serious limitations that we have, should not be viewed in the negative but should be an incentive for us to further try in our service to the Lord.
We have a call to faithfulness as average people. The glamour of genius and personality very likely is not in our DNA. It is not God’s way to do things by comparing ourselves to each other. How many talents we have should not affect our faithfulness. We still have giant opportunities to show our devotion to the Master even if we are living without some things that would bring attention to ourselves.
We have a crowning day waiting for us in the near future. Think of some of the people in the Scriptures that had yet to be recognized because they were living an average life without popularity. Aaron was the brother of Moses. God called him to serve in a particular capacity as the second banana to Moses. This was highly important because Moses had a stuttering problem and Aaron was the one who actually talked to the Pharaoh. Moses may have been the great lawgiver, but Aaron was the enabler of the ministry of Moses. Think of Barnabas and Silas. Neither of them wrote books that became part of the New Testament. Neither of them was considered first in their ministry work. However, in their each separate ways they supported another person who was actually upfront. Ultimately, they formed a missionary duo accomplishing much for God only as a result of not being in the limelight.
Now, think of Christ himself. At one point he even said that he had no place where to lay his head. He had no financial prosperity in his ministry. He did not fulfill the manufactured image of what the people thought the Messiah should be as a military leader. When he was on trial before Pilate, Jesus was chosen to be crucified while the real criminal, murder Barabbas was set free.
We do not need to be ultra talented. It is not necessary for any of us to enjoy recognition by other people in or out of the ministry. There is no reason for us to serve Christ expecting that we would have some benefit. The man Justus was not selected to be the replacement for the traitor Judas. Another man named Matthias was chosen. History tells us that even though Justus was not considered one of the apostles, he had his own fantastic ministry.
It is a God-given responsibility for us to accept being in second place if that’s where the Lord so chooses us. We need not have authority. Our job is simply to serve the Lord ignoring any prospects of recognition in this world. If you find yourself in a second-place position in or out of the church, thank God for it. It very likely could be the best place for you. It could be where you are best suited. It could be that’s where you could serve God’s better because he is the one in charge. We may not get five talents/giftedness/or blessings. As long as we are faithful to the talents that God has given us, we will have accomplished much in God’s kingdom.
Christian Writer 