“Bloom in Preparation: Use Your Gifts” by The Rev. Stephanie Kendell
Beloved Friends,
What a gift it is to be together again for another year of faithful planning and vision casting with our annual budget review. We will gather after worship on Sunday to hear from the Budget Team about where we are and where we are going. If you have not RSVP’d to Stephanie Wilson, please be sure to do so for both the hearing and the congregational meeting. Also, as we move into a new season of ministry with our Children, be sure to keep an eye on the newsletter for gatherings and information. As shared last week, there is no Children’s ministry this week or next week, but we will be back on Nov. 28th. If you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to reach out. We are so grateful for your grace and understanding during this transition. Finally, if you have moved or are new to our community within the last year, please email Stephanie Wilson to update your address so we can send you our Bloom in Advent kits.
This week’s message comes from the Book of Matthew and is known as the Parable of the Talents. It is such a timely parable for our budget conversations though I will admit, the first time I read it, I wasn’t sure what to make of it. It’s a complex parable about relationships, wealth, and personal talents. To understand it a little better, I read it 5 times putting myself in the mindset of each character – and today I invite you to do the same.
The first reading, I invite you to think about being the landowner. What do you hope comes of your money? Why might you have given different amounts to different people. What would you name as the spiritual gifts and talents of the landowner?
The second reading, I invite you to think about being the first worker. Why might you have been given the most? Does that come with more responsibility? What would you name as the spiritual gifts and talents of the first worker?
The third reading, I invite you to think about being the second worker. Does getting less than one worker but more than another affect how you understand your own value? What would you name as the spiritual gifts and talents of the second worker?
The fourth reading, I invite you to think about being the third worker. Why do you think the worker buried the money? What would you name as the spiritual gifts and talents of the second worker?
The final reading, I invite you to think about where you see God at work in each of these character’s stories?
“14 “Again, it’s like a wealthy landowner who was going on a journey and called in three workers, entrusting some funds to them. 15 The first was given five thousand dollars, the second two thousand, and the third one thousand, according to each one’s ability. Then the landowner went away. 16 Immediately the worker who received the five thousand went and invested it and made another five. 17 In the same way, the worker who received the two thousand doubled that figure. 18 But the worker who received the one thousand instead went off and dug a hole in the ground and buried the money.
19 “After a long absence, the traveler returned home and settled accounts with them. 20 The one who had received the five thousand came forward bringing the additional five, saying, ‘You entrusted me with five thousand; here are five thousand more.’
21 “The landowner said, ‘Well done! You are a good and faithful worker. Since you were dependable in a small matter, I will put you in charge of larger affairs. Come, share my joy!’
22 “The one who had received the two thousand then stepped forward with the additional two, saying, ‘You entrusted me with two thousand; here are two thousand more.”
“23 “The landowner said to this one, ‘Cleverly done! You too are a good and faithful worker. Since you were dependable in a small matter, I will put you in charge of larger affairs. Come, share my joy!’
24 “Finally the one who had received the one thousand stepped forward and said to the landowner, ‘Knowing your ruthlessness—you who reap where you did not sow and gather where you did not scatter—25 and fearing your wrath, I went off and buried your thousand dollars in the ground. Here is your money back.’
26 “The landowner exclaimed, ‘You worthless, lazy lout! So, you know that I reap where I don’t sow and gather where I don’t scatter, do you? 27 All the more reason to deposit my money with the bankers, so that on my return I could have had it back with interest! 28 You, there! Take the thousand away from this bum and give it to the one with the ten thousand.
29 “‘Those who have will get more until they grow rich, while those who have not will lose even the little, they have. “30 Throw this worthless one outside into the darkness, where there is wailing and grinding of teeth.”
[Matthew 25:14-30]
Now that you are done, who did you relate to most/ least? Why do you think this is an important parable? Do you think this parable is really about money? (Hint: It’s not…at least not entirely). See how this is a complex parable? Obviously, we need money to do the work of the church and we also know that God does not show love or favor through wealth. But this parable is actually not about the size of your gifts, but about making sure you use them. The first and second workers though given different amounts, are praised, and rewarded equally for using their gifts and talents. The third worker is chastised but not for failing to grow his gift, but for not using it at all. I believe that even if the third worker had tried to use his gifts and talents but had failed, he would have been met with grace rather than rebuke. What do you think? What are some of your talents and gifts? Do you use them all equally? Are there some that you have used more than others? Are there any that you have buried?
Friends, as we Bloom in Preparation for Advent, Christmas, and the New Year what might you need to do, to make sure you don’t bury your talents and gifts? Make a list this week of your gifts and talents and see how and when you use them. Could you expand the ways you share them? How might the church support you in naming your gifts and how you share them? This Sunday as we talk about the budget, of course look at the numbers, but make sure you see the ministries that they represent- and then ask yourself how you might share your gifts to help us grow.
Shalom Y’all,
Rev. Stephanie
Simple Prayer: O Holy Gift Giver, help me share my talents well to serve your people. Amen.
