So I Was Afraid

In Matthew 25, we hear Jesus tell a story.

A rich man is heading out on a long journey and he puts three of his servants in charge of his assets. To one he gives five "talents" (money); to another, two; and to another, one.  And off he goes.  When he returns some time later, he finds that the first two men have invested, and doubled, the assets left with them.  

The master responds to them both with, "Well done, good and faithful servant."

It's the third man bringing me here today.

He is afraid. 

Now remember -- the master trusted him - so he's clearly no dope.  The master saw potential. He saw what could be.  What did the man see?

He saw his potential for failure.  He saw his weakness.  He saw the perfection of his boss.

He was afraid.

He buried the money in a hole and did nothing.

I SO don't want to be that guy.

I see my potential for failure - and it's huge.  I see my weakness - it is great.  I see the enormity of the task.  I see the awesomeness, the perfection of my God.

I'm uncomfortable.

I'm afraid.

And I want to hide.   I want to procrastinate.  I want to continue to come up with reasons (read "excuses") for why I should just hide in a hole - at least I won't make anything worse there, right?

Wrong.

 

There is much that needs to be done - much He has entrusted to us - to me.  We are the agents He has chosen to use to bind up the broken, to heal, to rescue, to love this world and show them the love of a perfect, awesome Father.  And it will. get. worse. if we - if I, choose to hide in a hole and do nothing.

God is opening some doors just a crack to let me see some options - and y'all - I'm terrified at what lies behind every. one. of. them.

But I don't want to be that guy.

I don't want to be the guy, that at the end looks back at what could have been. 

I don't want to look back and just see a pile of dirt and an unused life.