To underscore the importance of ‘being ready’ for his second coming Jesus tells two parables. The first illustrates the consequences of not being ready. The parable of the ten virgins depicts the unready as being shut out of God’s Kingdom. This begs the question: What does it mean to be ready? The parable of the talents or bags of gold answers this. The answer is that we must be found in God’s purpose. The parable is not saying that there are certain things we must do to qualify for God’s Kingdom. Otherwise, the criteria would be the same for all. As it is here, each person is judged by a different criterion. The point is that each person will be judged by the fruit of their faith and the expectation is different according to each person’s gifting. It is faith by which we are saved (Romans 3:22) but faith is seen by its actions (James 2:17). It is not the actions that qualify us. The actions show our faith. God isn’t asking you to rack up spiritual achievements to earn your place in heaven. He is simply asking you to exercise the gifts he has given you for his purpose. You are only expected to bear fruit according to your God-given capacities. And you are already equipped for that. So, living out this purpose will be as natural as swimming is to a fish or flying is to a bird. It is actually harder to live any other way since we are made for God’s purpose. You would have to be deeply resistant to God to bury your gifts in a burrow of selfish living.
Ask God to show you what he wants of you and pray for fruitfulness.
Read Matthew 25:1-30
