Only One Life

Mike Foster taught the Parable of the Talents this past weekend from Matthew 25:14-30.

If you recall from the passage, two of the servants the landowner gave money to doubled his resources, but the third buried his masters’ money and made nothing.

“Master, I knew you to be a hard man, reaping where you did not sow, and gathering where you scattered no seed, so I was afraid, and I went and hid your talent in the ground. Here, you have what is yours.” 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? 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. So take the talent from him and give it to him who has the ten talents. 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.”

- Matthew 25:25-30

The landowner gave each servant a choice. You and I have a choice of what we do with our God given talents and gifts.

As an impressionable teen, I first heard this quote by Charles (CT) Studd.

“Only one life, ‘twill soon be past; only what’s done for Christ will last.”

It has become a directional statement in my life. When I doubt that God will take care of me and operate out of the scarcity mindset, it reminds me of the many ways He has kept his promise to “never leave me nor forsake me.” When I’m discouraged and want to give up, it gives me hope to keep going, and when obstacles rise before me, it inspires me to keep using my giftedness to love people well.

In the 1880’s, CT Studd gained fame as an outstanding cricketer for England’s Cambridge University and Etom College. Raised in a family of great wealth, he had the opportunity for a life of privilege. But after a preacher made a visit to the family home, CT became a follower of Jesus. Not much changed, and he described himself as a wayward believer, but a few years later when his brother became seriously ill, CT was confronted with the question, “What is all the fame and flattery worth… when a man comes to face eternity?" As a result of that experience he said, "I know that cricket would not last, and honour would not last, and nothing in this world would last, but it was worthwhile living for the world to come.”

When CT’s father died, he inherited 29,000 euro. Rather than investing or spending, he gave it all away, split between The Salvation Army, Moody Bible Institute and George Mueller’s mission work and orphanage. CT Studd took his talents and invested them into something that would last for eternity.

It makes me ask the question, “What am I doing that will last for eternity?” Think about it and ask yourself, “How am I investing my time, talents and treasures?”

My sister, Jennifer, was killed in a car accident at the age of 22. I will never forget a relative standing over her casket saying, “what a waste.” At first I was offended, but as I’ve reflected through the years, I’ve come to understand this person was referring to my sister not being able to live to her full potential because of her early death.

I don’t know how many days I have left on this earth, but I want to strive to leave something of eternal worth. I can’t make excuses or waste time. I really want people to know Jesus and experience His love for them through the resources and gifts I’ve uniquely been given. What about you? How can you use your unique gifts to make an eternal difference?

Remember, we have only one life, ‘twill soon be past, only what’s done for Christ will last!

Pastor Pam

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