Riding the Bench?

I have never really been good at sports. At an early age I tried out for many like other the other boys but I was small and uncoordinated. I tried but the drills were boring and I would rather goof off than do something boring and uneventful. Consequently I rarely got to actually play in any games. I could play of a game of which caused what, the chicken or the egg but the end result was still the same. Later in life I found a love for music. I wanted to write songs. Most start in music around elementary or junior high school. Most take piano lessons as a child. But for some reason at the age of 21 I decided that I wanted to write and preform songs. I had no idea of what to do or how to do it so I studied. I did not give up and now the last time I tried to count I figured that I have written about 300 songs. 

I have said before that God doesn’t like lazy. Its true, he made this wonderful planet for us to live on and above other creatures to take care of. Its our job to take care of it and one another. God wants us to respect, love and worship him for the gifts of this world and the talents he has bestowed on us. He was us to give back to him. He wants us to tithe at Chruch and give back 10% of all that we have. That’s not much he is asking when you think about it. He also wants us to use our talents to help him. If say, we can write songs, he wants us to write some for him. If we are good with money then he wants us to help him with his so that the Church’s charities can do more and help more in need. I have heard some say, “I have no talents.” For those I think that they just don’t know what their talents are yet. I encourage each and everyone to pray and ask God what your talents are and how to help him using them. For those, “with no talent” you can still help. You can love and nurture someone when they are down. You can help feed the hungry, collect items for the poor and pray for salvation of lost souls. Everyone has a part they can play in God’s kingdom no matter big or small. 

Matthew 25:14-30

14"For it will be as when a man going on a journey called his servants and entrusted to them his property; 15to one he gave five talents, to another two, to another one, to each according to his ability. Then he went away. 16He who had received the five talents went at once and traded with them; and he made five talents more. 17So also, he who had the two talents made two talents more. 18But he who had received the one talent went and dug in the ground and hid his master's money. 19Now after a long time the master of those servants came and settled accounts with them. 20And he who had received the five talents came forward, bringing five talents more, saying, `Master, you delivered to me five talents; here I have made five talents more.' 21His master said to him, `Well done, good and faithful servant; you have been faithful over a little, I will set you over much; enter into the joy of your master.' 22And he also who had the two talents came forward, saying, `Master, you delivered to me two talents; here I have made two talents more.' 23His master said to him, `Well done, good and faithful servant; you have been faithful over a little, I will set you over much; enter into the joy of your master.' 24He also who had received the one talent came forward, saying, `Master, I knew you to be a hard man, reaping where you did not sow, and gathering where you did not winnow; 25so I was afraid, and I went and hid your talent in the ground. Here you have what is yours.' 26But his master answered him, `You wicked and slothful servant! You knew that I reap where I have not sowed, and gather where I have not winnowed? 27Then you ought to have invested my money with the bankers, and at my coming I should have received what was my own with interest. 28So take the talent from him, and give it to him who has the ten talents. 29For to every one who has will more be given, and he will have abundance; but from him who has not, even what he has will be taken away. 30And cast the worthless servant into the outer darkness; there men will weep and gnash their teeth.'

A Thought: The Gift of Sweaty Funk Nasty

Yesterday I went to work and I was struck with a decision to make. I work in a very dirty messy environment and my job it is to clean and fill in wherever needed. I approached my area for the moment and it was completely trashed. The person responsible for that area to clean was gone on vacation. His fellow co-workers in his team had not gotten there yet, and I wasn’t sure if they were going to. At my work there is a culture of, “This is my box that of things I do and anything outside of it I don’t touch”. It was a very hot day outside and this place was sheltered from breeze. What did I do? I grabbed a shovel and started digging. Wheel barrel after barrel I finally got it clean in between the work I was doing. I had the ability to help and so I did. I only hope that someone saw I was working outside my box and decided maybe to start doing the same.

God definitely doesn’t like lazy. He understands that we all have different gifts and abilities and disabilities but he doesn’t want us standing idle in the fields or in the Church. He wants us involved. He wants us to take care of ourselves. He wants us to take care of others out of love. Also he wants us to take care of his Church by speaking his word not only in his house but especially outside of it. He wants to make sure that we help him touch all, help all, welcome all into his Church. Its easy to be idle, to goto Church and then come home and not think of God until the next Sunday, but that is not what God wants. God wants everyone at his house/table so that he can share his gifts. We not only help others by sharing his word of love and compassion, but we also get a deeper understanding of his love and ways as we work to bring God to others. 

2 Thessalonians 3:6-10, 16-18

6Now we command you, brethren, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that you keep away from any brother who is living in idleness and not in accord with the tradition that you received from us. 7For you yourselves know how you ought to imitate us; we were not idle when we were with you, 8we did not eat any one's bread without paying, but with toil and labor we worked night and day, that we might not burden any of you. 9It was not because we have not that right, but to give you in our conduct an example to imitate. 10For even when we were with you, we gave you this command: If any one will not work, let him not eat. 16Now may the Lord of peace himself give you peace at all times in all ways. The Lord be with you all. 17I, Paul, write this greeting with my own hand. This is the mark in every letter of mine; it is the way I write. 18The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all.