Just a Little Bit of Faith

As we are studying Revelation, the topic of Jesus’ return keeps surfacing. Today, I was mulling over the parable of the talents in Matthew 25 and Jesus’ words in verse 13, that we don’t know the day or the hour when the Son of Man is coming back. Immediately, He tells a story, an object lesson, describing that very event.

There is a man who has an estate (kingdom) and who is leaving on a journey to a far country, entrusting his estate in the hands of his people (servants). He will evaluate their performance by what he finds when he comes back.

While he is gone, his people are free to be diligent in maintaining and building up the owner’s estate, or they can go their own way, spending their days as they choose. They can pretend to be kings building their own kingdom, or they can retain their focus on their responsibility to the one who is coming back.

As the owner left, he gave three servants various “talents” with instructions to use them for his good. One received 5, one received 2, and one received 1. Obviously, he expected each to use those talents wisely with a promise of a reward when he returned.

You remember, too, that the first used his 5 and made 5 more. The second also busily worked and made 2 more. The third hid his and did nothing for the owner’s kingdom.

Now, when the owner came back (and he most assuredly did), he did not evaluate the servants’ efforts by comparing the quantity of results. He evaluated them by the distance each had come from his own starting position. They were not competing for his favor; all who contributed were rewarded with the owner’s favor.

When he evaluated the fruits of the labors of the first two, he did not call them effective or profitable. He called them “good” and “faithful.” He was obviously not looking for profit as much as faithfulness.

The third servant was called “wicked, lazy, and worthless.” I note that James 2:18 says “I’ll show you my faith by my works.” It would follow that not using one’s talents for the owner is “un-faith.” Is there any question in our minds about who is the owner in this story?

Hmmm, I Corinthians 10:26 declares, “for the earth is the Lord’s, and everything in it.” Okay, ownership established. I guess we know who the servants are.

As we study Revelation and consider the impending return of the Lord Jesus to the earth, I’m thinking we should make sure we can answer “yes” to the Luke 18:8 question: “When the Son of Man comes, will He find faith on the earth?”

Notes to self: Acknowledge the owner; Use our talents; Build His kingdom; Demonstrate faith.

(A chorus we sang years ago)
♫ “Faith, faith, faith
Just a little bit of faith.
Faith, faith, faith
Just a little bit of fa-ith.
You don’t need a whole lot;
Just use what you’ve got.
Faith, faith, faith
Just a little bit of faith.” ♫