"The Opportunity Is Ours"

   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 five talents, to another two, and to another one, to each according to his own ability; and immediately he went on a journey.
   Then he who had received the five talents went and traded with them, and made another five talents.
   And likewise he who had received two gained two more also.
   But he who had received one went and dug in the ground and hid his lord's money.
   After a long time the lord of those servants came and settled accounts with them.
   So he who had received five talents came and brought five other talents, saying, "Lord, you delivered to me five talents; look, I have gained five 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 two talents came and said, "Lord, you delivered to me two talents; look, I gained two 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."
   Then he who had received the one 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 talent 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.
   Therefore 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."

Every day we a faced with a choice. That choice has to do with whether or not we, as His servants, will be faithful in our service to the Lord. In the above parable we are told that the three servants were given talents by the one they served. It says that their master, knowing them, gave to them 'each according to his own ability,' and what that means is he knew their abilities and their potential but what they ultimately did with those talents while he was away was theirs to make.

The Lord, has not only given gifts and abilities to each of us, but a measure of faith and unlimited opportunities to experience abundant life and a personal relationship with Him. What we do with all that He has entrusted us with is our choice. We can take it all for granted, ignore it or just bury it somewhere in the background of our lives if we choose. Or and this or is the point ... we can participate in multiplying it and causing it to not only grow but to enrich us in every way possible. The more we use it, the more it increases and the more He blesses us with more and more and more. He has entrusted us with so much 'opportunity' but the truth is we decide if we bring blessing and honor to Him with that opportunity. We make the choices that cause His heart to swell with love as He says, "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."

We choose what we do with all His gifts even the most amazing gift of all ... 'the opportunity' to live an abundant life!  Will we?