As I read the parable of the talents in Matthew 25, a new insight came to me that increased a personal revelation from the Lord. Follow along with me as we look at this story from the perspective of where we put our hope. The story involves two servants who earned more with the talents they were given than the one who buried his, but it is so much more than that. It’s all about the hope of their hearts.
Nothing in this story indicates the master had promised a reward for the servants’ time and effort; however, all their needs were already met as part of his household staff. The first two did not set their hopes on what they would receive for attending to the master’s business while he was away. Their hope was in their master, so they were busy doing what would be to his benefit, seemingly without thought of personal increase. When the master returned, they were rewarded abundantly, on top of what they already had!
The third one missed out entirely. As one of the servants, he lived with all the benefits of being part of the master’s household, just like the others, yet he was ungrateful and spiteful. I don’t know where his hope was, but it wasn’t in his master. His misplaced hope caused him to have wrong thinking and bad attitudes, and led to bad choices – so that, in the end, he even lost what little he had.
I was recently diagnosed with celiac disease. Getting the diagnosis was an answer to prayer, though God didn’t give this to me, and I didn’t ask for it. What I did ask for, repeatedly, was help in finding the root of many symptoms that I knew were related. The day I heard the diagnosis, I prayed for the healing that Jesus provided in the stripes on His back, and I know it is mine. So, how does all this relate to my personal revelation?
At this time, celiac disease is only treatable through a radically changed diet – one completely free of gluten. I’m only too happy to give up the gluten, because there is expectation of health beyond what I’ve known! But, when the Lord gave me the insight into this parable, I saw that I could easily lose sight of the truth that Jesus, alone, is my Hope. My diet is not my hope, though it is an important part of the health He has for me. Jesus is my Hope. Even great health beyond what I’ve ever known is not my hope. Jesus is my Hope. Lack of symptoms is not my hope. If I put my hope in any of those things, I will be disappointed, and might even lose sight of what is already mine in Christ, as did the ungrateful servant with misplaced hope.
I don’t want to forget what is mine in Christ Jesus, but I don’t even want to hope in and focus on that! I want my hope to be fixed on Jesus Christ, alone. Everything else is already provided in Christ. When my hope is in Jesus, alone, what I do is for the benefit and glory of my Lord, producing much fruit for Him. Yes, my hope is in Jesus Christ alone. Where is your hope?
To Make Christ Known 