Several nights ago I had a rather liberating revelation about God’s character. I had been having a rough time that day, and I was spending some quiet time with God before bed in an effort to clear my head. One of the things that had been weighing on me was our financial situation-especially certain bills that had to be paid later than they were actually due. The following scripture came unexpectedly to mind:
I Corinthians 3:5-8
5 Who then is Paul, and who is Apollos, but ministers through whom you believed, as the Lord gave to each one? 6 I planted, Apollos watered, but God gave the increase. 7 So then neither he who plants is anything, nor he who waters, but God who gives the increase. 8 Now he who plants and he who waters are one, and each one will receive his own reward according to his own labor.
Now, I am very familiar with this scripture, but that night I saw it from a very different perspective. I was startled by the fact that this scripture was illustrating a very basic principle of God’s character and heart toward His children: that He is a God of increase and abundant generosity, that He rewards us extravagantly for the tiny work that He enables us to do in the first place. Consider the parable of talents which proves to be another picture of God’s generous character:
Matthew 25:14-28
14 “For the kingdom of heaven is like a man traveling to a far country, who called his own servants and delivered his goods to them. 15 And to one he gave five talents, to another two, and to another one, to each according to his own ability; and immediately he went on a journey. 16 Then he who had received the five talents went and traded with them, and made another five talents. 17 And likewise he who had received two gained two more also. 18 But he who had received one went and dug in the ground, and hid his lord’s money. 19 After a long time the lord of those servants came and settled accounts with them.
20 “So he who had received five talents came and brought five other talents, saying, ‘Lord, you delivered to me five talents; look, I have gained five more talents besides them.’ 21 His lord said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant; you were faithful over a few things, I will make you ruler over many things. Enter into the joy of your lord.’ 22 He also who had received two talents came and said, ‘Lord, you delivered to me two talents; look, I have gained two more talents besides them.’23 His lord said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant; you have been faithful over a few things, I will make you ruler over many things. Enter into the joy of your lord.’
24 “Then he who had received the one talent came and said, ‘Lord, I knew you to be a hard man, reaping where you have not sown, and gathering where you have not scattered seed. 25 And I was afraid, and went and hid your talent in the ground. Look, there you have what is yours.’
26 “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. 27 So you ought to have deposited my money with the bankers, and at my coming I would have received back my own with interest.28 Therefore take the talent from him, and give it to him who has ten talents.
Here, we can see from the opening line “The kingdom of heaven is like…” that this parable represents God’s dealings with those who are a part of His heavenly kingdom. Notice how disproportionately each (faithful) servant is rewarded. They got back way more than they invested, and, even what they invested was given to them. Furthermore, it is clearly illustrated from the lazy servant’s audience with the master that anything done to increase the original amount given was worthy of a reward, and that only inaction was unacceptable:
“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.”
What strikes me most about the lazy servant is that he was completely deceived about the true character of his master, and he suffered because of it. His perception of his master’s character influenced what he did with what he was given:
“ I knew you to be a hard man, 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.’”
The lazy servant’s belief that his master was harsh and selfish made him afraid and rendered him inactive. On the contrary, the faithful servants were very active with what they were given and they seemed excited and proud to bring their return to the master. They don’t seem to cower in fear at all. Perhaps this is because they knew that their master was good and generous.
God expects us to do something with what He gives us, but He rewards us for our flawed efforts so much more richly than we could ever deserve. Think about it, He gives us the starting investment, He helps us invest it, and He rewards us for being obedient and faithful(which we can’t even do without His help anyway!)
So why do I worry about anything?! My God is a lavish, generous God. Here’s an excerpt from my journal on this subject:
“With all of my life, in every way, I may have a job to do, but God ALWAYS takes the responsibility of giving the increase. He makes my seeds grow and flourish-not me. I plant, water, and tend, but I need have no cares or fears; for the great Master Gardner oversees it all, corrects what mistakes I may make and breathes life into the work I put forth. He infuses my life and work with meaning, grace, and abundant life.”
The Overflow 