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Monday, December 14, 2020
Today's Scripture
“For the goodman is not at home, he is gone a long journey: He hath taken a bag of money with him and will come home at the day appointed. (Proverbs 7:21-22)
Thoughts for Today
These two verses remind me of the parable of the Bags of Gold in Matthew 25:14.
“Again, it will be like a man going on a journey, who called his servants and entrusted his wealth to them. To one he gave five bags of gold, to another two bags, and to another one bag,[a] each according to his ability. Then he went on his journey. The man who had received five bags of gold went at once and put his money to work and gained five bags more. So also, the one with two bags of gold gained two more. But the man who had received one bag went off, dug a hole in the ground and hid his master’s money.
“After a long time, the master of those servants returned and settled accounts with them. The man who had received five bags of gold brought the other five. ‘Master,’ he said, ‘you entrusted me with five bags of gold. See, I have gained five more.’
“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!’
“The man with two bags of gold also came. ‘Master,’ he said, ‘you entrusted me with two bags of gold; see, I have gained two more.’
“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!’
“Then the man who had received one bag of gold came. ‘Master,’ he said, ‘I knew that you are a hard man, harvesting where you have not sown and gathered where you have not scattered seed. So I was afraid and went out and hid your gold in the ground. See, here is what belongs to you.’
“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? 27 Well 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.
“‘So take the bag of gold from him and give it to the one who has ten bags. For 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. And throw that worthless servant outside, into the darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.’
Usually, when a master goes for a long business trip, those who are working under him will tend to feel more relaxed and they may start becoming mischievous when he is not around. They may think that he will not be back so soon, and they may start to do the things they aren't supposed to be doing, thinking that the master will not return so soon.
Who knows the master may return at the time they are least expecting and find them doing the things they aren't supposed to be doing. It would be a horrible sight to see that.
The same metaphor applies to all of us. Jesus told us that He has gone to prepare a place for us and He will return again to take us to Him. This is what Jesus said to all of his disciples.
"Therefore keep watch, because you do not know on what day your Lord will come. (Matthew 24:42)
Prayer
Dear Heavenly Father,
We do not want to take for granted the time that You have given us. We want to use the time You have given us wisely for your Kingdom and Glory. We desire to walk in Your truth. Help us, Lord. In us dwells nothing good. You alone can purify our hearts and make them clean. We ask you to come within our hearts and mind, dwell in us. Sanctify our lives that we may fulfill the task we came here to do. We ask this in Your Precious Name, Jesus. Amen!