Unwrapped Potential: The Peril of Unused Gifts

“Then another came, saying, ‘Master, here is your mina, which I have kept put away in a handkerchief. (Luke 19:20)

The parable of the minas in Luke 19:20-23 reveals a sobering reality: unused potential is a tragedy in the Kingdom of God. The third servant, crippled by fear and misjudgment, buried his master’s mina in a handkerchief, choosing safety over service, inaction over investment.

"Fear has torment," says 1 John 4:18, and it is this torment that shackled the third servant’s ability to act. His perception of the master as harsh and demanding paralysed him, leading him to hide his potential rather than harness it. This fear of failure, of not meeting expectations, resonates with many believers today.

The servant’s accusation against his master was rooted in a flawed understanding of his character. Similarly, a distorted view of God can lead us to hide our gifts rather than use them for His glory. Yet, Psalm 103:8 tells us the Lord is compassionate and gracious, slow to anger, abounding in love.

When the master returns, the servant’s defence becomes his judgment. Proverbs 18:21 emphasises that life and death are in the power of the tongue, and indeed, the servant's own words condemn him. His failure to act, justified by fear and accusation, resulted in the loss of opportunity and reward.

The master's rebuke is clear: even the least effort, such as putting the money in the bank, would have been preferable to inactivity. We are reminded of James 2:26, "Faith without works is dead." Our faith is demonstrated by our actions by investing what we have been given for growth.

Each of us has been given a "mina" — talents, time, resources — with the expectation that we will invest them wisely. Matthew 25:23 shows us that God delights in rewarding those who use their talents well, saying, "Well done, good and faithful servant."

The lesson from the third servant calls us to courageous stewardship. 2 Timothy 1:7 reminds us that God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power, love, and self-discipline. We are empowered to use our gifts boldly and wisely.

In the wake of the servant’s failure, we learn the importance of words that align with God’s truth. Ephesians 4:29 urges us to let no corrupting talk come out of our mouths, but only such as is good for building up ourselves and those around us. Our words should reflect our faith and the character of the God we serve.

Let us then move from fear to faith, from accusation to action. Galatians 6:9 encourages us not to grow weary in doing good, for in due season, we will reap a harvest if we do not give up. Our active faith and stewardship can lead to an abundant harvest of blessings and opportunities.

The story of the third servant is a cautionary tale, urging us not to let fear or false perceptions hold us back from fulfilling our God-given potential. Instead, we are called to unwrap our minas and invest them in the work of the Kingdom, trusting in the goodness and grace of our Master.

Unwrapped Potential: The Peril of Unused Gifts

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