Matthew 25:26-30

26“His master replied, ‘You wicked, lazy servant! So you knew that I harvest where I have not sown and gather where I have not scattered seed? 27Well then, you should have put my money on deposit with the bankers, so that when I returned I would have received it back with interest.

28“ ‘So take the bag of gold from him and give it to the one who has ten bags. 29For whoever has will be given more, and they will have an abundance. Whoever does not have, even what they have will be taken from them. 30And throw that worthless servant outside, into the darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.’(Matthew 25:26-30)

Thoughts: The servant who only received on talent and hid it in the ground only thought he was afraid.  The master did not call him afraid but called him wicked and lazy.  This is the problem- we tend to excuse our behavior to our benefit.  The master's point was that if he was afraid he still could have worked to find a way to make interest.  It is the too-easy way to just hide it in the ground. 
     We lose our talents and abilities if we do not use them.  It is almost like a muscle that atrophies and get's weaker without use.  If we do not use our abilities, we get rusty and lose confidence.  But God will still accomplish His purposes even if we refuse to be used to glorify Him.  God will raise p someone else and we will be left out and useless. . In the end, we head ourselves toward despair and despondency if we do not try to do something in our lives for God.  We are created and called to use our talents and abilities for Him.  

Prayer: Lord, use me.  Soften my heart with courage that I might be used by you.