Start with What You've Got
"His master replied, 'Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master's happiness!'”
—Matthew 25:23
In the scriptures, Jesus tells the parable of the talents. Although there are a lot of lessons that can be derived from this inspired parable, I'd like us to focus on the law of due diligence. The law of due diligence simply means that if you conscientiously work with what you have been given, more will come. Each one of the guys in the parable who was faithful with the little they had been given was rewarded with more of the same. On the other side of this truth is the consequence of being slothful or lazy with what you have. Jesus’ story illustrates that if this is the case, even the little you have will be taken away.
Jesus also said that "many are called, but few are chosen." Over the years, I've run into hundreds of people who tell me they are called to a ministry similar to ours. I usually rejoice with them for a minute or so, and then I'll ask them what they've been doing with the call. More times than not, the responses are very similar. They'll say, “Well brother, I'm just waiting on God.” I never say it, but on the inside I usually hear, "You're not waiting on God. He's waiting on you."
The fact of the matter is that we've all been called to the ministry of reconciliation. I have no doubt that many of these well-meaning folks are actually called to the mass crusades and miracles, but I can't see God launching them into a platform ministry until they've administered the ministry for which they are currently responsible—the ministry of reconciliation.
Sure, God wants you to reach the nations of the world with the message of Jesus Christ. He absolutely wants to work through you with signs, miracles and wonders, but before these notable things occurred in our ministry, we started sharing our faith with the people in our hometown and we never hesitated to lay hands on the sick. It's just not Biblical for God to promote somebody who is inactive.
Right now, there are 6.5 billion people on the planet and over 4 billion who haven't heard the gospel. On the seven continents of the world, there are more than 250 countries or sovereign territories. There are thousands and thousands of cities in the world with a population of over 300,000. We've all been called to reach the nations of the world, but where do we even begin? In light of the parable mentioned above, I'd start right in my own neighborhood. I'd start with the guy in the cubicle next to mine at work.
God desires to promote us. He really wants to anoint us and launch us into our own ministries. If you find yourself frustrated and confused about why the doors of ministry aren't opening, maybe you need to look at what you've been assigned and check your diligence meter. You don't have to travel to the other side of the world in order for God to use you. You don't have to wait for new orders or new spiritual equipment. Start with what you have and the Lord will add and even multiply it as He promotes you again and again.
Scriptural Context
Matthew 25:14-30
Concept Reinforcement
The sluggard craves and gets nothing, but the desires of the diligent are fully satisfied.
—Proverbs 13:4
Now it is required that those who have been given a trust must prove faithful.
—1 Corinthians 4:2
All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation: that God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ, not counting men's sins against them. And he has committed to us the message of reconciliation.
—2 Corinthians 5:18-19
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