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The Daily Word of Righteousness
My Reward Is With Me, #20
His master replied, "You wicked, lazy servant! So you knew I harvest where I have not sown and gather where I have not scattered seed? Well then, you should have put my money on deposit with the bankers, so when I returned I would have received it back with interest. Take the talent from him and give it to the one who has the ten talents. For everyone who has will be given more, and he will have an abundance. Whoever does not have, even what he has will be taken from him. And throw that worthless servant outside, into the darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth." (Matthew 25:26-30—NIV)
The parable of the talents warns us clearly of the danger of neglecting to serve the Lord with the abilities, great or small, that we have now. If we say we have no abilities, then the Apostle Paul tells us to fervently desire the gifts needed to build the Body of Christ.
But what about "grace"? Aren't we saved by grace?
The grace of forgiveness will not help us if we have buried our talent. Through Divine grace we are forgiven our sins and then through Divine grace we are enabled to serve the Lord. Grace is not an alternative to keeping the commandments of Christ and His Apostles. Grace is the Person of God through Jesus Christ enabling us to be conformed to the moral image—and ultimately the bodily image—of Christ, and bringing us into untroubled rest in the Person of God through Christ. This is what grace is. It is not an excuse for failing to do God's will!
I do not believe there is a scriptural basis for hoping we can neglect to use the abilities we have today and then be treated as a good and faithful servant when the Lord returns.
In conclusion, let me remind the reader that the first resurrection itself, the resurrection that will take place when Jesus returns, is a reward for living the victorious life. If we would be raised to assume the thrones that govern the earth, thrones that in the present hour are occupied by Satan and his followers, we must have pursued the overcoming life. The first resurrection is for the royal priesthood, not for those who have not followed Christ diligently during their lifetime.
As Paul said, "If we as a Christian choose to live in the perverted desires of our flesh, we shall die." Paul is not speaking of dying physically. We die physically whether or not we live in the desires of our flesh and soul.
Rather, Paul means if we do not nourish the resurrection life given to us when we received Christ, but choose instead to place our emphasis on the life of our flesh and soul, when the Lord comes there will be no "oil," no resurrection life, that will raise us to meet Him in the air. This is the meaning of the parable of the wise and foolish virgins.
It is commonly believed that professing belief in Christ qualifies us to participate in the first resurrection. I do not believe this is true. Participation in the first resurrection is a reward that will be given to us because we have chosen to put to death the deeds of our body, placing our joys and hopes in the great bank of Heaven. (from My Reward Is With Me)