Then he who had received the one talent came and said, ‘Lord, I knew you to be a hard man, reaping where you have not sown, and gathering where you have not scattered seed.
Matthew 25:24
Everyone one of us has received gifts from the Lord (Eph. 4:8). All of us are creative beings made in the image and likeness of God. Each of us is responsible for what the Lord has given us and will be put to the test on whether we are faithful with these gifts that God has given to us. The enemy will always attempt to shut any one of us down regarding our faithfulness with these gifts.
Many have buried the gifts that God has given them because they have been seduced to sit down, wait and do nothing. When this happens the very creative nature of God within that individual is shut down. We must understand that we are created in the very image of God. His nature is to create. In the same way we are creative, every one of us. The enemy’s desire is to shut down that creativity so that destinies are never fulfilled.
What many have done is yield to this seduction, bury what they have and call it humility. Many are afraid of doing anything with what they have been given out of fear that God will not be pleased or missing God. Notice what the man who had received the one talent and buried it says to the Lord, I knew you were a hard man. A religious spirit teaches a person that God is hard and is holding a gavel over their head waiting for them to make a wrong move. Notice now the Lords response to the servant:
But his lord answered and said to him, ‘You wicked and lazy servant, you knew that I reap where I have not sown, and gather where I have not scattered seed. So you ought to have deposited my money with the bankers, and at my coming I would have received back my own with interest. Therefore take the talent from him, and give it to him who has ten talents. For to everyone who has, more will be given, and he will have abundance; but from him who does not have, even what he has will be taken away. And cast the unprofitable servant into the outer darkness. There will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.’
Matt 25:24-30
Step Out in Faith
Much of the motivation for people not stepping out in faith with what God has given them is because they are afraid that they will fall into pride. But just the opposite is true. It is pride NOT to step out with what the Lord has given you. It indicates that a person really does NOT know the ways and character of the Lord intimately and in truth. They have bought into a lie that God is NOT good. They may say that God is good but deep in their hearts they don’t believe it. Concerning pride, the Lord is well able to keep you humble as you obey Him and are faithful with what He has given you. When someone yields to this seducing spirit it also fosters laziness by the very nature of it. Because of fear a person is afraid to do anything so naturally they don’t and a lazy spirit sets in. Remember, without faith it is impossible to please God. Faith is action.
Follow the Father’s Desire
If you find yourself caught up in this cycle the way to break it is to first realize that the Lord desires you to do something with what you have been given. He has given everyone something. Then realize that He is good and wants to help you in that process. He does not condemn, but ever lives to intercede for you to see you be all that He has called you to be. With that ask the Holy Spirit to open up the treasure chest within your heart and to give you creative ways of releasing what God has put in you. Then step out in faith with what you have. Do not let any man shut down what God has put in you. Don’t be ruled by the opinions of man or religious institutions. You live to please ONE, not many. Follow His voice alone. This is not always easy. But the cross that we all are to bear occurs when we obey God and it goes against the grain of men’s desires and natural thinking. This always creates the cross. This is the true cross that Jesus bore. When He did His Fathers desires and the religious wanted answers and got none. Jesus was only obligated to His Father. It is the same with us.