Romans 12:6-11
Having gifts that differ according to the grace given to us, let us use them: if prophecy, in proportion to our faith; if service, in his serving; or he who teaches, in his teaching; the one who exhorts, in his exhortation; the one who contributes, in generosity; the one who leads, with zeal; the one who does acts of mercy, with cheerfulness. Let love be without hypocrisy. Abhor what is evil; cling to what is good. Love one another with brotherly affection. Outdo one another in showing honor. Do not be slothful in zeal, be fervent in spirit, serve the Lord.
But we have a variety of gifts, according to the grace that is given us; one has prophecy according to the measure of his faith, and one has ministry in his service, and one has that of a teacher in his instruction. One has that of a comforter, which is in his comforting, and a giver in generosity, and a top leader with diligence, and that of caregiver with cheerfulness. And be not deceitful in your love, but hate evil and cleave to the good. Be affectionate to your brethren and love one another; be preferring and honoring one another. Be diligent and do not be lazy; be enthusiastic in spirit; be working for your Lord.
1 Peter 4:10-11
As each one has received a special gift, employ it in serving one another as good stewards of the manifold grace of God. Whoever speaks, as one who speaks oracles of God; whoever serves, as one who serves by the strength that God supplies—in order that in everything God may be glorified through Jesus Christ. To him belong glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen.
And let each one of you serve his neighbor with the gift he has received from God, as good stewards of the unique grace of God. Everyone who speaks, let him speak according to the word of God, and everyone who ministers, according to what power God gives to him, that God may be glorified in all that you do, by Yeshua The Messiah, whose glory and honor is truly to the eternity of eternities.
Most of us really want to connect with the five and two-talent men. And, we should. They are the model of what Jesus wants us to be – He said so in the 521 parable. Everything they about them – attitude, effort, interest, passion, loyalty, skill, purpose, faith, belief, response, strategy and vision! They had it all – they were parabolic rock stars! In spite of all this amazingness, we have learned that the five and two-talent men are reachable for us! They are reachable and do-able because of gifts and opportunity we have been given. Because our God has given to us His Son Jesus Christ, we too can live in the 521! Yet before we move on to do great things, we need to take a moment.
Although no one really wants to – we all must make a final connection to the one-talent man. Not to create a negative vibe, or to receive an obligatory spiritual beat-down, and not to drudge up old insecurities and insufficiency. But rather to embrace a reality that keeps our faith, belief, and life on pace with the daily expectations of God, as well as those opportunities we have been given through the great gift of His Son Jesus Christ. What are we doing with what we have been given? The connection to the one-talent man does not mean that we are the one-talent man – though we know some that are. It might only mean that we have been him in the past, and simply need a reminder of who we are now, and who we intend to be moving forward. Perhaps, some are in danger of becoming the one-talent man, and need to connect to him only so that you can then turn around and disconnect from those one-talent man thoughts, and those one-talent man behaviors – you can do it. Connecting to the one-talent man can also remind us once again that in Christ, we are free to move away from the one-talent man, or better yet, to never ever become him. We have this moment together to see the one-talent man for who he was, and what he did with what he had been given, and then once and for all to reject him, his poor decisions, and losing attitude. We are going to discover that to live in the 521 means many things, but one of the most significant will be to know this truth about the one-talent man.
We can see him – we can come to understand him – we can learn from him – we can move forward and away from him – and thank God, we do not have to become him.
By doing this, we can fully live in the 521! And that is to live in a way that our Lord, and Master both accepts and expects. The best part of that is that He has given us the gifts and the opportunity to live that way. To live in the 5-2-1 is in reality, us becoming the 10-4-2! That is funny to some… but, it is possible to all!
In the final analysis, what will become most important will be to answer the question of who is, and what are the differences between the one-talent man, and the five and two-talent men? I think we all know the answer to this now. The answer tells us clearly how to live in the 521.
“Living with a determined belief and an active faith in God, characterized by the will to prepare, the desire to please, and the love to obey Him with what has been freely given to us from Him.”
To live in the 521 I also believe that we all should (as I said earlier) want and work to be five and two talent men/women! We should believe that way, think that way, decide and choose that way, each day live that way. We should not spend one minute second guessing that way – nor should we ever apologize for being that way. The 521 is God’s plan and desire for us, and that is why He chose to give each of us not only His greatest gift, but also the gifts and opportunities that we need to flourish and multiply our gifts and talents in this life as we prepare for the life to come! The practical path for us to move forward begins now by asking and answering two important and essential questions:
Am I, or are we, a five, a two, or a one?
What am I, or are we doing with what we have been given?
Living the 521 in 3-D
Once we have asked and answered those questions we will need to look at living the 521 in 3-D (three dimensions):
Self – Family – Community
These three dimensions need practical and attainable applications. That is both simple and biblical.
Strategies – Possibilities – Outcomes
John 15:1-11
I am the true vine, and my Father is the vinedresser. Every branch of mine that does not bear fruit he takes away, and every branch that does bear fruit he prunes, that it may bear more fruit. Already you are clean because of the word that I have spoken to you. Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit by itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in me. I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing. If anyone does not abide in me he is thrown away like a branch and withers; and the branches are gathered, thrown into the fire, and burned. If you abide in me, and my words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. By this my Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit and so prove to be my disciples. As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Abide in my love. If you keep my commandments, you will abide in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commandments and abide in his love. These things I have spoken to you, that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be full.
From this red-letter word of truth we begin the daily practice of processing those three dimensions into three applications. It looks like this…
Living in the 521 as Me
(Use Biblical Strategies – Reach for Biblical Possibilities – Expecting Biblical Outcomes)
Living in the 521 as a Family
(Use Biblical Strategies – Reach for Biblical Possibilities – Expect Biblical Outcomes)
Living in the 521 as the Community of Christ (Reunion)
(Use Biblical Strategies – Reach for Biblical Possibilities – Expect Biblical Outcomes)
