The Cooling Stream

"For the kingdom of heaven is like a man traveling to a far country, who called his own servants and delivered his goods to them."

And to one he gave 5 talents, to another 2, and to another 1, to each according to his own ability; and immediately he went on a journey."

We are all endowed with many different talents and capabilities.

None of them belongs to us; they are all given to us by God our Creator.

Now the Lord God wants to know how we use His talents.

And there would come a time when we are required to give an account.

"Then he who had received the 5 talents went and traded with them, and made another 5 talents."

"And likewise he who had received 2 gained 2 more also."

"But he who had received 1 went and dug in the ground, and hid his lord's money."

Some of us who are richly endowed have fully utilized our talents.

Some of us who are less gifted have also perfected all our capabilities.

But there are others who have hidden their talents and capabilities, the very gifts from the Lord God.

"After a long time the lord of those servants came and settled accounts with them."

"So he who had received 5 talents came and brought 5 other talents, saying, ' Lord, I have gained 5 more talents besides them.'"

"His lord said to him. 'Well done, good and faithful servant; you were faithful over a few things, I will make you ruler over many things. Enter into the joy of your lord.'"

"He also who had received 2 talents came and said, 'Lord, you delivered to me 2 talents; look, I have gained 2 more talents besides them.'"

"His lord said to him, 'Well done, good and faithful servant; you have been faithful over a few things, I will make you ruler over many things. Enter into the joy of your lord."

The time would come when the Lord God would settle account with us; there would be no escape.

There would be those who would be praised by the Lord God: Well done, good and faithful servant.

They have been faithful over a few things, and the Lord God would entrust them with many more things.

And they are invited to share the joy of the Lord God.

"Then he who had received the 1 talent came and said, 'Lord, I knew you to be a hard man, reaping where you have not sown, and gathering where you have not scattered seed. And I was afraid, and went and hid your talents in the ground. Look, there you have what is yours."

"But his lord answered and said to him, 'You wicked and lazy servant, you knew that I reap where I have not sown, and gather where I have not scattered seed. So you ought to have deposited my money with the bankers, and at my coming I would have received back my own with interest. Therefore take the talent from him, and give it to him who has ten talents."

"For to everyone who has, more will be given, and he will have abundance; but from him who does not have, even what he has will be taken away."

"And cast the unprofitable servant into the outer darkness. There will be weeping and gnashing of teeth."

Some of us have treated the Lord God not as our Heavenly Father, but as a hard cruel Master.

We fear and tremble before the Lord God. We dare not use His given talents. Instead we hide them from people, even until now!

There would be those who would be reprimanded by the Lord God: You wicked and lazy servant.

They have not been faithful with the few things that they have been entrusted, and the Lord God would not give them anything.

All that they have would be taken away and given to the good and faithful servants.

And they would be thrown into outer darkness; they would not share the joy of the Lord God.

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We all have our God-given talents and capabilities.

Where are they now?

There would come the Judgment Day when we have to give account.

Who are we serving?

God or men?

"Well done, good and faithful servant; you have been faithful over a few things, I will make you ruler over many things. Enter into the joy of your lord"