Are You Using Gifts Given me by Our Lord to Serve Him

Last weekend, June 7 and 8, I attended a reunion for the 53rd anniversary of my high school graduation in May of 1971. It was good to see long-time (surely not old) friends again. However, one of the more sobering displays at the Saturday night banquet was a list of class mates who had passed away. In 2016, at the 45th reunion of our graduation, that list included 88 members of our class of 964 students. But this year, the number of those who have died since graduation has increased to over 150. Kathy and I have recently commented numerous times to one another how blessed we have been to have good health. We have friends and family who have suffered various illnesses and ailments. Like my graduating class, a number of family and friends, even those younger than we are, are no longer with us. Yet, we are still here and we have been relatively healthy. Thank you, Lord! This is NOT a gift to take for granted.

The other side to this blessing, which Kathy and I also often share with one another, is the question: “How are we using this blessing of life and health?” In 2015 Kathy and I served as adult leaders at the LCMS National Youth Gathering in New Orleans. Kathy had traffic duty. Her volunteer work was summer hot in New Orleans, and required a lot of walking. Yet, another volunteer working beside Kathy was an 85 year old lady. Kathy talked with the lady about her active life. This woman’s response to Kathy was, “I tell my friends, ‘You are still alive. Get out of your easy chair. God has still something for you to do!’”

So, Yes! SINCE God has blessed us with life and health, how are we using these gifts to serve our Lord? In Matthew 25 Jesus shares God’s truth in “the parable of the talents.” The master in this parable gave 5 talents (a large sum of money) to one servant, 3 talents to another, and 1 talent to another. The first two servants doubled the investment of their master and returned it to him. The master’s response was similar for both. ”His master said to him, 'Well done, good and faithful servant. You have been faithful over a little; I will set you over much. Enter into the joy of your master.'” (Matthew 25:21) However, the third servant was not so diligent with His master’s gift. When asked by the master for an accounting, the third servant replied, “I went and hid your talent in the ground. Here, you have what is yours.” (Matthew 25:25) Jesus tells of God’s response to those who do not use His gifts faithfully, “26 But his master answered him, 'You wicked and slothful servant! You knew that I reap where I have not sown and gather where I scattered no seed? 27 Then you ought to have invested my money with the bankers, and at my coming I should have received what was my own with interest. 28 So take the talent from him and give it to him who has the ten talents.’” (Matthew 25:26-28)

When I looked at retiring, for many understandable and good reasons, I nevertheless considered this parable. I did not want to “bury my talents in the ground.” I did not want to have gifts from the Lord, yet neglect to serve Him. And, as I look at the list of all those who did not make it to my 53rd graduation reunion, knowing that I have made it, and knowing that I am healthy, I am again led to ask that question. “SINCE God has blessed me with life and health, how am I using these gifts to serve our Lord?”

My answer to this question is a little different than the question asked. Rather than responding to the question “How am I . . . ?”, my response is that, “in my heart I DESIRE to serve my Lord and Savior. In 2 Corinthians 5:15, God teaches us through St. Paul, “and he died for all, that those who live might no longer live for themselves but for him who for their sake died and was raised.” (2 Corinthians 5:15) I WANT to live for Jesus, BECAUSE Jesus died and rose for me! Jesus did not wait for me to use my gifts from Him, and then die to save me. In spite of my sin He died and rose for a sinner like me, one who like the servant can be wicked and slothful (lazy). But, because Jesus loves me in His cross and the empty tomb, I want to live for Him. I want to use the gifts of life and health he has given to serve Him as I am able.

Interestingly, a friend just recently asked me about the parables of Matthew 25 after a round of golf. My answer to His questions was, “When we know the undeserved grace and love of God, we want to serve Him and our lives show our thanks and praise.

I laughed at a recent story I read following the commemoration of the 80th anniversary of D-Day, on June 6. A man named Harold Terens first visited Normandy as a U.S. Army Air Forces corporal right after the invasion. Many of his friends died in the battle to establish a beachhead. Last weekend Terens, who is 100 years old, returned to Normandy and married his 96 year old fiancee’, Jeanne Swerlin. He said they’re looking forward to “a long and happy life together.” Terens is not wasting the gift of life. I appreciate his example!!

Not everyone is 71 years old as I am. Many are younger, and many, like Terens, are also older than I. Nevertheless, in each life there are blessings from our Lord. We have the eternal blessings of forgiveness and eternal life as we believe in Jesus. We have the earthly blessings of who God has made us to be, and the people and other gifts He puts in our lives.

So, I ask you, “SINCE God has blessed you in this life, how are you using His gifts to serve our Lord?”