"Again, it will be like a man going on a journey, who called his servants and entrusted his property to them. To one he gave five talents of money, to another two talents, and to another one talent, each according to his ability…

… but the man who had received the one talent went off, dug a hole in the ground and hid his master’s money.” Matthew 25:14-15, 18. NIV

Do you think that jealousy could have contributed to the third servant’s inactivity? Matthew 25 tells us that the other servants doubled what had been entrusted to them while the third did nothing with it.

Looking at his friends who had been given more, do you think that he was unhappy with his talents in comparison? I do believe that jealously could have been a factor in this situation because I have seen many people in today’s church refuse to use their gifts and talents to benefit the Kingdom of God because they aren’t satisfied with the ones that they have.

In the church today, everyone wants the stage. Although God should receive all of the glory, there are people that secretly covet some for themselves. The Bible teaches us that where jealousy and selfish ambition are common, nothing good can happen there:

 "For where you have envy and selfish ambition, there you find disorder and every evil practice." James 3:16 NIV 

 The devil would love to stir up jealousy in our hearts to the point that we sit inactive with the things God has given us, but we can’t let that happen. God has deposited precious gifts inside of each of us. We must not let anything, including the incorrect belief that God is unfair, keep us from using what we do have to contribute to the big picture of God’s plan. In fact, the one who buried his talent because of his wrong view of the master was cast out into the darkness, never being able to know the master’s true generous character.

May we not compare ourselves to others. May we hear the Lord say: 

"Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master’s happiness." Matthew 25:21

Would You Pray With Me?

I Have A Question