During last weekend's worship services, we began listening to Jesus' words recorded in Matthew 25 and heard his story about the ten bridesmaids. The main point was to be wise by being prepared for our Lord's return. After all, who wants to be in the position of the foolish ones who forgot to bring oil for their lamps and, when they finally showed up for the wedding feast, heard, "Truly I tell you, I don’t know you." Jesus concluded by saying, "Therefore keep watch, because you do not know the day or the hour." (Matthew 25:12-13)
This weekend, we'll hear Jesus' story about three servants who are given different amounts of money from their master while he is away. Two out of the three double their master's money for him, while the third who was given the least amount buries it. Upon his return, the master is pleased with the two but says of the other, "Throw that worthless servant outside, into the darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth." (Matthew 25:30)
Sometimes the impression may be that the wicked servant simply sat around and did nothing after burying his master's money. Another way of looking at it is that he was busy doing things, but not what his master wanted him to do.
Here's the question: What has God (the Master) entrusted you (the servant) with? We all have different gifts and abilities which are to be used in loving service to Him by sharing His love in the world around us. We each have our vocations (callings). God uses His people in those different callings to reflect His love, whether it be as a business person, a maintenance person, a construction worker, a banker, etc. Think of it this way: God could have designed things so that food would simply come down from heaven each day. Instead, He designed things so that farmers work by preparing fields, planting seeds, weeding fields, and harvesting so others can be blessed through their work.