On Holy Tuesday, the last Tuesday before the crucifixion, Jesus told piercing stories through parables. Holy Tuesday is a day to pause and reflect on Jesus’ last messages in the last few days of his earthly life because his messages were not just meant to inspire but to prepare us. Today’s passage talks about the parable He shared in Matthew 25:14-30 called the parable of the talents, or some versions of the Bible have it titled the parable of the three servants. This parable calls for us to live a life of steadfast faith in our purpose and steward it well.

The parable tells of a master preparing to leave on a journey. Before he goes, he entrusts his wealth to three of his servants. To one servant, he gives five talents; to another two, and the third one. The first two servants go to work, invest in what they’ve been given, and double their portions. But the third servant hides his talent in the ground. When the master returns, he praises the first two servants, saying, “Well done, good and faithful servant.” But the third? He tells the master, “I was afraid I would lose your money, so I hid it in the earth…” (verse 25).

Fear prevented him from being faithful with the talents he had been given. He was playing small, and he hid that which was entrusted to him. Perhaps he also compared himself to the other two servants who were given more talents than him, or perhaps he just didn’t feel good enough to use the talents, or even more, maybe he didn’t think he had enough talents to make a difference. The two faithful servants didn’t compare, compete, or question what talents they were given. They used what was entrusted to them. The third servant’s issue wasn’t that he had little –he let fear stop him from doing anything with it.

If we’re honest, fear, not feeling good enough, and comparison can paralyze us, too. We fear we don’t know enough, have enough, or are just not good enough to do what God has called us to do with our talents. We don’t walk in steadfast faith, and therefore, we play small and hide our talents, fearing they are not enough or that we are not enough. We worry to much about ourselves and don’t give or spend enough time helping others. We want what we want from God and we want it right now!  Today’s passage reminds us that God isn’t looking for perfection—He’s looking for our steady and consistent faithfulness to what He’s entrusted us with, big or small even when we are overloaded, our prayers may not be being answered the way we want or even if we don’t like our circumstances or feel that life hasn’t been fair.

This Holy Tuesday, instead of constantly complaining, being unhappy or dissatisfied with our life’s story, let’s take a moment to reflect: What has God placed in my hands right now? Am I hiding out of fear or comparing my talents to the talents of others? Am I too selfish? Am I not doing what I know God called me to do? Am I receiving a lot but then giving nothing in return? This Holy Tuesday, surrender how you are to God, pray, “Heavenly Father, you placed me here on earth for such a  time as this.. YOU know me, and you know my circumstances, I invite you to come into my life and help me to become the type of person you want me to be. Help me to have more faith, to be steadfast, to give to others, to do for others, to pray more, do more, and use my talents for the good of those you have placed in my path for their good and for YOUR Glory! This Holy Tuesday as Easter approaches, help me Heavenly Father, let me gift you with becoming a better version of myself!

Don’t bury who you are or what you can do to help like the thirsty servant did. Steward it. God sees every steadfast step of faith and is delighted in our faithfulness and He will honor our faithfulness, reward our steadfastness, and help us where needed.

Let’s begin to take those small steps of faith, knowing that every step, big or small, matters in God’s Kingdom. Let’s choose to show up with what we have been given. Don’t wait for more of this or more of that or for more talents. Choose to be faithful in the talents you have been entrusted with today.

My heart longs for the day to see my risen Savior say to me, “Well done, good and faithful servant.”

Let’s Pray:

Dear Lord, Thank you for all you said in the many parables on Holy Tuesday so that we can cherish them and learn from them in our daily walk. Thank you for entrusting us with things that matter, even when I feel unqualified. You have chosen us specifically to be a part of your Kingdom and assigned us gifts specifically designed for just us, too. You have weaved us into your plan to expand the Kingdom. But Lord, forgive us for the times that we have buried what you have given us. Forgive us for the times we have let fear keep us small and hidden rather than walk in steadfast faith and trust in you. Forgive us for the times that we have let comparison take over, for all the times we have compared our gifts to others, distracting us from the purpose and gifts you have designed just for us. Open our hearts again to be faithful in the everyday small things. We want to be a good steward of the season we are in with the gifts you have given us in this season. Forgive us for waiting for a better moment, a better gift, or more gifts to obey you and be faithful to you.

We want to be steadfast in our obedience to you. We choose to serve you today, right here, right now, in the exact season we are in, with the exact gifts you have given us for this precise moment in time. Help us to remember that you are the Master – and our only job is to be faithful in what you have entrusted us with. I desire to work for you, not perfectly but faithfully and diligently. In your mighty name, we pray, Jesus. Amen

Written by A. J Headle