Pastor Herk continues that in Matthew 25:14-15, Jesus told the Parable of the Talents stating, “For it is just like a man about to go on a journey, who called his own slaves and entrusted his possessions to them. To one he gave five talents, to another, two, and to another, one, each according to his own ability; and he went on his journey.” The point of the story is that the Master didn’t expect each of the three servants to produce the same result, but he did expect them to bear fruit in proportion to what they had been given. The servant given only one talent was condemned because he hadn’t even attempted to increase what had been given. Jesus emphasized in Luke 12:48, “From everyone who has been given much, much will be demanded; and to whom they entrusted much, of him they will ask all the more.” Jesus has entrusted each of us with a specific amount of talents, and asked that we be faithful with whatever He has given to us for the advancement of the Gospel.
Ephesians 2:10 “For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand so that we would walk in them.” God created each of us by design and Jesus will never compare you to anyone else. He asks you to be faithful with the gifts and talents that He has given you; that is the measure. He is watching to see what you are going to do with them. The key to maintaining our horizontal relationships with others is to make sure that each one of us does our part using what Jesus has given us for kingdom works.
When our focus is on our vertical and horizontal relationships per God’s design and purposes, then it is automatic that we shall have spiritual growth and maturity in the faith; causes growth of the body for the edifying of itself in love. Physical growth occurs naturally through the body’s formative years. Likewise, when the church body is properly connected to the head of the church – Jesus, when we maintain our connections to others, and when all in the body are doing their part, growth is going to naturally occur by the power of the Gospel, through the Holy Spirit. However, if the church body is not properly connected to the head, if we do not maintain the horizontal connections with others and everyone doing their part, then there is nothing that we can do to produce growth. There won’t be any program, no plan, no ministry or book that can generate spiritual growth and maturity in the faith when those connections are broken. So, if the body of Believers are going to grow into the head, which is Christ, then we are going to have to do it together, collectively.
We need each other to grow and mature as Jesus wants us to, then it only going to happen if each Follower of Christ does their part. That starts with repenting of sin and receiving Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior of our life, and thereby connecting to the head as a part of the body of born-again Believers. That vertical relationship provides the support for all horizontal relationships in life. It is a true blessing as the church body grows for the glory of God and the advancement of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. But, each member of the body must assess their life in the church and doing their part in the ministry, effectively using your God-given gifts, time and treasures in what the Lord has given into your care, willing to help where needed and asking God in personal prayer how He wants you to respond to His call; offering your life. as we grow into Christ.
Your brother in Christ, Brian
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