Turning One Talent Into Two

Sacred agents have a strong sense of responsibility – or at least we should have. I’m sure you’ve noticed how many of Jesus’ stories are about whether agents will be found faithful when an absent master returns. So we have an eye on that day as we go about doing what we can with what’s been entrusted to us.

But there may be times and seasons where we feel we’re not kicking goals or making much of a difference. It may simply be that the Spirit is giving us a season of rest between assignments – in that case resting is the assignment we’re to be faithful with! But still there are times when we feel we’re just spinning our wheels, and not bearing much fruit (like some bogged and barren motorised citrus tree).

What to do with our talent in such a season? The bottom line, says Jesus, is to put it in the bank and at least make some interest. Better than burying it, anyway. But if you’re looking to do a bit better, here’s an idea:

Find someone who is bearing ministry fruit, and help them out.

One of Jesus’ lesser-known sayings is this: ‘Whoever receives a prophet because they are a prophet will receive a prophet’s reward, and whoever receives a righteous person because they are a righteous person will receive a righteous person’s reward. And if anyone gives even a cup of cold water to one of these little ones because they are my disciple, truly I tell you, they will never lose their reward.’ ^{Matthew 10}

It makes simple sense. If you do something practical to enable someone with a fruitful ministry to produce even more fruit, then that extra fruit happens because of your action. If Billy Graham came to town and was planning to do a day of laundry, wouldn’t it be a no-brainer to do it for him, to enable him one extra speaking event? You might bring dozens of people into the kingdom just by standing in front of a washing machine.

But it takes some humility, doesn’t it? It might be tempting to look at Billy and think, ‘When was the last time you hung out washing, Bill? This will be good for you. And give me some platform time for a change.’ It’s only when we realise that it’s not about us, that all the talents belong to the Master, and all that matters is that his ministry bears fruit, that we’ll open our eyes to see the creative opportunities we have – even when it feels like nothing’s happening.

What ministries are flourishing in your neck of the woods? And how might you get a piece of their reward?