being a bible college student, i'm going to refer to a parable in the NT. because i can.
then tell you what i learnt from it.
so last year in intro to NT class, we learnt that the parables Jesus told were not always what they seemed to be. it is not just a simple story, but there is a twist at the end. and if you view the parable from a different angle, you will learn something totally new. that is what happened to me.
im going to refer to the parable of the talents. Matt 25:14-30. (go read it if you've never read it before)
having been to sunday school since i was a kid, i had heard and knew this story so well. i was always taught that the moral of this story is to be like the 5 talents guy and do something with the talents and gifts that God has given you. and it is better to have done something with it and failed (from a human definitely of fail) than to not have done anything with it at all. (this was definitely used a lot in getting ppl to serve/volunteer at church!) while there is nothing wrong with this lesson, i recently learnt a completely new lesson from this parable.
ever since i set foot at hillsong church/college 1.5 yrs ago, my only aim was to keep climbing higher, take every opportunity i had to serve (especially within TV department), but because i want to serve the ppl, as well as build connections, to get more involved. i was using all my energy to do all i can to contribute to this amazing church. i was being like the 5 talents guy, staying as far away as i can from being the 1 talent guy. but what i didnt realize that i actually needed to learn from the 3 talents guy.
every time i saw a fellow classmate or another student who had less experience than me, got assigned a role with more responsibility than what i was given, i got a little jealous. wondering why it wasnt me in that position.
i wonder... did the 3 talents guy ever wonder "why did he get 5 and i only got 3? does my master not value me as much? does he not trust me, or see me as worthy?" spot on. that was me.
but as the parable goes, the master (represents God here) does not judge the servants based on the number of talents they have, but rather if they did something with their talents. both the 5 talents and 3 talents guy did something with it, because they knew the heart of their master. they both recieved the same comments, "well done, my good and faithful servant. you have been faithful with few things, i will make you ruler over many things. enter into the joy of your lord." v21 and 23. God did not favour one over the other. the only difference was the 1 talent guy who did nothing, got the comment "you wicked and lazy servant"! and i definitely dont want to be called that.
realizing this, i had to learn the value of the roles and tasks i was assigned. learnt that my value and worth come from the judgement of God and not of others here on earth, or my own self-worth.
besides, altho i may have received "3 talents" to work with, i can put it to good use and turn it into 6. then 12. then 24. etc! and that is definitely more than 5 talents! =)
i finally got out of that bitter phase, only to find much more joy and pleasure in all that i do at church! it was all in God's plan this whole time for me to learn this lesson. because as soon as i did, i was given a truck load more responsibilities! the 3 turned into at least a 9!! and it has been incredible!
love what i do, love my church, love His people!
it will be a bittersweet moment when i fly off on Dec18th. easily the best 2 years of my life, but i know that the best is yet to come!
but while im still here for another 3.5 months, im going to continue learning and doing all that i can!
"preparation time is never wasted time." and i cant wait to see whats in store for me back in toronto =)
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