James
tells us that, “…faith apart from works is dead” (James 2:26). In
Matthew 25, Jesus tells a parable about talents given to three servants and how
they used – or didn’t use, those talents. For the two servants that used their
talents for work, the master responds with the words, “well done, good and
faithful servant.” For the one who didn’t use his talent but buried it
instead, the words were harsh and condemning.
Each of us has work to do before we actually stand face-to-face with
Jesus. Like the servants in the parable, we’re too given resources for the
Master’s work. They were given money; we’re given money too, but also time,
energy, natural talents, spiritual gifts, and help from the Holy Spirit. We
must not waste these resources that God, the master has given us. We must spend
them for his work—not just for ourselves.
In doing “good works”, we must always check our hearts. This isn’t about earning
our way into Heaven, but rather, it’s about trusting our Master and following
him into a better kind of life.
My prayer for you is that you would perform a check-up from the neck up and take inventory of the gifts God has given you. How can you begin to use these gifts and talents, for “…we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them” (Ephesians 2:10).