Hoarding what God has entrusted to us

I find an interesting parallel between the parable of the ten minas in St. Luke's gospel and the way the church does or doesn't use its talents and resources to be Jesus to the world.

We have basically the example of three types of stewardship, all of which I have seen played out in different Christians lives.

1. We have the example of the servant who takes one and makes ten. Here is that Christian: when faced by the opportunity to serve, he will entrust himself to God's care, abandoning himself to serving God.

2. We have the servant who takes one and makes five, showing us the example of one who serves more cautiously but still serves his Lord using what God has given him to further the Kingdom.

3. And last we have the servant who is paralyzed by his view of his Master, thinking of Him as a severe man who takes those things others have worked for. This servant is not only focused on the aspect of his Master in His capacity as judge of the wrongdoer, but thinking of the King as a common man and not as the protector and enabler of His subjects, rightly requiring the increase.

How often do we sit around and speculate about what God would have us do to the exclusion of doing anything? Why is it so hard to abandon ourselves to serving our God with all He has given us?

I suspect that part of our apathy is due to the fact that we view God in a human frame and not as the One who gives all and asks for that which we can joyfully give of the abundance He has given us, and partly because we have forgotten the story of the rich man and Lazarus and the examples of St. Martin, St. Brigit, St. Francis and St. Clare, Dr. Livingstone, R.G. LeTourneau, Mother Theresa of Calcutta and so many others.

So what gifts and talents has God given you? How are you using them to glorify Him and further His Kingdom?