June 17

Matthew 25:15 (ESV)
15 To one he gave five talents, to another two, to another one, to each according to his ability. Then he went away.

When God gives us “talents” (which was equivalent to 20 years of laborer wages), He gives them according to our ability. There are 2 things that this tells me:

#1 God gives different people different amounts
#2 God gives the different amount according to what people can appropriately handle with their God given abilities

Firstly, why are we jealous of others when it is God who gave them the talents? Some people are up front people and some of those earn a lot of money – why be jealous? It is God who promotes? Instead of asking why we aren’t up there doing such and such and getting all mad about it, why don’t we concentrate on what we have since we are really upset at God?

Secondly, further on in the parable Jesus illustrates a principle of the Kingdom – if you manage what you have well, you will be given more! The enemy wants us to focus on what other people have been given and envy instead of focusing on the gracious gifts we have been given and multiplying them. If we multiply them (please notice that they can be multiplied which will give us as much other people who got more in the first place), then we will be given more! Do you want more? Then steward what you have with precision and never look at another gifts and envy.