2nd Timothy 1:7 For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.
This passage of scripture teaches us that fear does not originate with God, and the Holy Spirit whom He has given to dwell with us, removes from each believer, the tendency to be afraid of any and everything. When we truly give our lives entirely to Christ, trusting in Him because we understand that He knows what is best for us, then we can have the assurance at all times and in all places, that all things will ultimately work for the good of those who love God.
The spirit of fear, or a doubtful, skeptical attitude, effectively inhibits our God-given potential, to be the very best that we can be by His grace, for fear always brings negative possibilities to the forefront of the equation, when anything good or noble is to be accomplished. This is the attitude that caused the unfaithful steward to hide his Lord's goods in the ground, for he was afraid to make even a reasonable investment. The Lord had given ten talents to one, and five talents to another, and the He called this last steward and gave him only one. The distribution of the talents was done on the basis of their individual capacity to use and multiply them, and therefore each steward was responsible for maximizing to the fullest extent, the goods thus entrusted to them. Let's read:
Matthew 25:14 For the kingdom of heaven is as a man travelling into a far country, who called his own servants, and delivered unto them his goods. 15 And unto one he gave five talents, to another two, and to another one; to every man according to his several ability; and straightway took his journey. 16 Then he that had received the five talents went and traded with the same, and made them other five talents. 17 And likewise he that had received two, he also gained other two.
The attitude manifested by the stewards who received ten and five talents respectively, is worthy of note, for in doubling up on what God had given them, they were actually fulfilling the very first mandate given to man at his creation. Let's read:
Genesis 1:28 And God blessed them, and God said unto them, Be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth, and subdue it: and have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over every living thing that moveth upon the earth.
However, a very different disposition surfaced in the steward who received the one talent, for according to his own testimony, fear of risk and fear of failure, prevented him from multiplying his talent, and for harboring this attitude, he was forever debarred from entering into God's eternal kingdom of glory. Let's read:
Matthew 25:24 Then he which had received the one talent came and said, Lord, I knew thee that thou art an hard man, reaping where thou hast not sown, and gathering where thou hast not strawed: 25 And I was afraid, and went and hid thy talent in the earth: lo, there thou hast that is thine. 26 His lord answered and said unto him, Thou wicked and slothful servant, thou knewest that I reap where I sowed not, and gather where I have not strawed: 28 Take therefore the talent from him, and give it unto him which hath ten talents.30 And cast ye the unprofitable servant into outer darkness: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.
This parable has very serious implications for us in our own experiences, for many of us have had opportunity to know what the Lord requires of us, to whom He has given several talents and abilities, yet many, even amongst Christians, are to be found sitting on the fence, afraid of stepping out in faith to accomplish everything that can be done within the framework of individual and collective advancement. God desires that His people should excel both in spiritual and temporal lines, for the Christian is supposed to be one of the most productive citizens of earth, and then finally of heaven. Let's read:
Deuteronomy 28:12 The Lord shall open unto thee his good treasure, the heaven to give the rain unto thy land in his season, and to bless all the work of thine hand: and thou shalt lend unto many nations, and thou shalt not borrow. 13 And the Lord shall make thee the head, and not the tail; and thou shalt be above only, and thou shalt not be beneath; if that thou hearken unto the commandments of the Lord thy God, which I command thee this day, to observe and to do them.
The reason why we ought to take these scriptural teachings seriously, is because in the day of final accounts, when God will give to every man his due, it will be found that the overwhelming majority of people who will be lost are not "Bad people" per se, but they were just afraid of stepping out in faith to lay hold on eternal life. Some were afraid to keep God's commandments, because they were afraid of ridicule, afraid of losing their jobs, afraid of being rejected by family and friends, afraid that God's promises would not be fulfilled, while others were afraid to stand up for right in the midst of moral darkness, and so, many people live their entire lives on the fearful side, instead of trusting in God in whom there is limitless possibilities for all who exercise faith in Him. This cultivated fear, if not relinquished by the grace of God can cause a person to eventually lose out on eternal live, as evidenced by the following scriptures. Let's read:
Revelation 21:8 But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death.
We therefore end with a passage of scripture which encourages us to exercise that faith and trust in God that will enable us to climb every mountain, overcome every hurdle, win every battle, and aspire to the highest height, for with God nothing shall be impossible. Let's read:
Hebrews 11:32 And what shall I more say? for the time would fail me to tell of Gedeon, and of Barak, and of Samson, and of Jephthae; of David also, and Samuel, and of the prophets: 33 Who through faith subdued kingdoms, wrought righteousness, obtained promises, stopped the mouths of lions. 34 Quenched the violence of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, out of weakness were made strong, waxed valiant in fight, turned to flight the armies of the aliens.
May we begin to exercise that faith in God which would bring out the best in us, for it is the will of God that every Christian be enabled by His grace to reach their fullest potential in any God-given line of duty. "Good night" and God bless!