Could all the wicked people
please stand up!
 |
| From wallpaperstack.org |
When I say that the world is
full of wicked people, what comes to your thoughts? I’m sure your mind is
reeling with images of thieves, rapists, murderers and people behind bars
(whichever bar comes to mind first). When the term wicked is used, you probably
think of the real-life example of Darth Vader, Loki, The Joker of Gotham City or Cruella
from 101 Dalmatians. They blow up buildings, kill innocent people and plot
dastardly schemes to get their ways. Well, God has an interesting way of
defining wicked. In Matthew 25:14-30, Jesus narrated the parable about the men
who were given talents by their master.
V15- To one he gave five talents of money, to another two talents, and to
another one talent, each according to his ability
The first two servants used
their talents well and multiplied their profit by 100%. The third servant
didn’t squander his talent but he didn’t invest it either. He buried it in the
ground and kept it hidden. The master, upon returning, was furious on
discovering that this servant had not used his talent to multiply any wealth. His
master’s reply was this:
His
master replied, 'You wicked, lazy servant!
We know he is lazy because
he did not work. But on what account is he wicked? Did he use the money to
gamble or buy something illegal? No. Is the master’s call unjustified? No, it’s not.
The third servant is wicked on account on his failure to do the right thing
with the resources in his hand. He does not necessarily do an evil thing. Look
at what Proverbs 21:27 says:
The
sacrifice of the wicked is detestable-- how much more so when brought with evil
intent!
We are told that wicked
people make detestable sacrifices but we are told it is worse when there is an
evil intent in their actions. It is possible that even without evil intent,
common people like you and me can be wicked in our actions. Our wickedness is
most prone when we have the capacity to do the right thing but we fail to do
so. Listen to Proverbs 21:7:
The
violence of the wicked will drag them away, for they refuse to do what is
right.
That violence is brought
about by lack of action and not necessarily by direct infraction. The third
servant in the parable of the talents is wicked not on account of an infraction
caused but on account of an omission of good. How many things has the Lord
given you that you have not executed? On that account, you are wicked, beloved.
We are wicked people because
of our sinful nature. We are held back from the great things we could do and successful
risks we could take because we are too slothful to work, too proud to associate
with others, too self-absorbed to think outside our comfort and convenience,
too immature to handle greatness, too addicted to things to grow and too
complacent to think that we even have a problem. The word says this:
Hebrews 12:1 Therefore, since we are surrounded by such
a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the
sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked
out for us.
You may think that Hebrews
12:1 has nothing to do with your resources but it does. We talk about all the
ideas we could execute and all the things we could be but we’re held back by
that sin that so easily entangles us. What is the sin that entangles you from
realizing the potential God placed in you? Sin occupies our time and energy and
desensitizes us from using our resources. When we fail to use our resources, we
cannot run the race God has called us to effectively. Are you accountable in regards to your time, money and gifts?
If God has required that
Ernest writes 5 books in his lifetime and that those 5 books will help save the
souls of 1000 readers, then Ernest has a task. If he writes only one book, then
he is a wicked servant. I find Matthew 25:15 interesting. It says that each
servant was given resource each according
to his ability. Therefore Ernest has everything he needs that God has
allocated in order to be accountable to his duty. If
you’re entangled in sin, chances are, even if you can still perform in your respective
area of resource, you will not be as effective as when you’re disentangled from
sin. When men and women of God minister, and their lives are right with God,
the ministry becomes more than a worship song. The drawing becomes more than a
painting. The 8pm-5pm job becomes more than a task accomplished. The people from
without see the signature of God in the resources that we are given and in
consequence they glorify God (Matthew 5:16).
Have you discovered areas of
wickedness in your life? Have you discovered you need to change? The amount of
time it takes to learn, change, grow and improve depends on the following:
a)
Our willingness
to agree with God that we have a problem.
We will start to cease being
wicked when we agree that what God says about us is true.
b) Our admission to our problems and cessation to
blaming others for them and making excuses.
The lazy servant blamed the
master for his wickedness and slothfulness. People say statements like, “You
made me angry” instead of taking responsibility for their anger. People blame
the company around them for addiction in porn, drugs and make the excuse of not being
able to leave. If it affects you and it is actively executed by you, commit it as a
problem you have and humble yourself before the Maker of the Universe who demands a
responsibility from your life.
c)
Our acceptance that
the solutions come from God
The resources you have come
from God. It’s only sensible that he would know how best for you to execute
their profitability.
d) Our investment in studying, learning and applying God’s
word
The word of God teaches us
to be righteous. When we are wicked with our sexuality, his word teaches us
that we shouldn’t have even a hint of immorality (Ephesians5:3). When we are
wicked with our job, his word teaches us that we ought to work hard and not
borrow to be a burden (1 Thessalonians 3:10).
If we refuse to accept that
we have a problem, blame others for our behaviour, waste time trying to change
ourselves and fail to invest constant fellowship with God and his word, we will
be akin to the third servant. We may have successful lives but as far as God is
concerned, they may be mediocre because he knows he has given you more. We will
take 40 years in the desert of living a “normal life” when it could take us 11
days to get to a life of “greatness”. Have a wicked-less week!