Results of Not Doing What God Called Us to Do
Building on the Wrong Foundation
In continuing with the Lord distributing talents to the three servants, two of the servants were fully rewarded because they were faithful fulfilled God’s purpose in their lives. Although one was given five talents and the other was given two talents, both of them received equal rewards. God gave them what they could handle.
Then he who had received the one talent came and said, Lord, I knew you to be a hard man [he used an excuse], 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. So, you ought to have deposited my money with the bankers, and at my coming I would have received back my own with interest. So, 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 (Matthew 25:24-30).
Reminder: only those who are born-again will be at the Judgment Seat of Christ- The unsaved will be at the great white throne judgment (Revelation 20:11-14).
What does “outer darkness” mean? I learned it this way.
Here’s the scenario
We are the bride of Christ. Let us be glad and rejoice and give honor to him: for the marriage of the Lamb is come, and his wife hath made herself ready (Revelation 19:7-8) And I John saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband (Revelation 21:2).
Those who are more intimate with the bride and groom are the ones who will be a part of the wedding party. They will be near the candelabra where the light is greater and everybody can clearly see them.
Others are invited to the wedding who will be in the audience and there is light but will get dimmer the farther away they are seated. This means those who are more intimate with Christ will stand out and everybody will see them, this is their reward for being faithful.
The weeping gnashing (gritting to teeth) is the sorrow that will be expressed because they did not fulfill God’s purpose. Some scholars say “outer darkness” is hell. However, the Word never said hell which is mentioned in another scripture. And shall cast them into a furnace of fire: there shall be wailing and gnashing of teeth (Matthew 13:42).
Paul wrote this - *But one and the same Spirit works all these things, distributing to each one individually as He wills (1 Corinthians 12:11).
For no other foundation can anyone lay than that which is laid, which is Jesus Christ. Now if anyone builds on this foundation with gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, straw [erroneous doctrine], each one’s work will become clear; for the Day [Judgment Day] will declare it, because it will be revealed by fire; and the fire will test each one’s work, of what sort it is.
If anyone’s work which he has built on it endures, he will receive a reward. If anyone’s work is burned, he will suffer loss; but he himself will be saved, yet so as through fire (1 Corinthians 3:11-15). These people preached and the Word of God had value, but they were not doing it to glorify God. Therefore, they will not be rewarded.
A day is coming, when each person’s work will prove whether they fulfilled God’s purpose in their lives. Don’t continue to waste the precious gifts that God gave you along with your gift
of salvation.
Don't you want to hear our Savior say "Well Done" - good and faithful servant?
Betty A. Burnett ~ burnettministries.org
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