What Are You Doing with What God Has Given You?


 

The question hangs in the air like morning fog—uncomfortable, revealing, impossible to ignore: What are you doing with what God has entrusted to you?

It's a question that cuts through our carefully constructed excuses and forces us to examine not just what we believe, but how we're actually living in light of those beliefs. It's a question that separates genuine faith from religious performance.

The Context of Kingdom Living

In Matthew 24, Jesus sits on the Mount of Olives—a location heavy with prophetic significance for Jewish culture—and delivers some of the most challenging news his followers could imagine. The temple they worship at will fall. Everything they know will be stripped away. Their entire understanding of covenant relationship with God is about to be turned upside down.

But Jesus doesn't stop there. He looks beyond the immediate future to something even more significant: His kingdom is coming, and when it does, everything will belong to Him. Those who follow Him will remain with Him. Those who reject Him will be cast out.

The disciples are left with an urgent question: What do we do while we wait?

It's the same question we face today, nearly 2,000 years later. We live in the tension between the "already" and the "not yet"—the kingdom has come through Jesus, but its full realization is still ahead. So what do we do in the meantime?

Three Kingdom Priorities

Jesus answers this question with three parables in Matthew 25, each revealing a crucial aspect of kingdom living.

Be Ready

The parable of the ten virgins (Matthew 25:1-13) teaches us vigilance. Five wise virgins brought extra oil for their lamps; five foolish ones didn't. When the bridegroom arrived, only those who were prepared could enter the wedding feast.

Jesus is crystal clear about one thing: "But about that day or hour no one knows, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father" (Matthew 24:36). Anyone who claims to know when the world will end is lying. The point isn't to predict the timeline—it's to be perpetually prepared.

Readiness isn't about living in fear or anxiety. It's about living in alignment with the King, having accepted the gift He's offered, and being transformed by His presence in our lives.

Love Well

The parable of the sheep and goats (Matthew 25:31-46) reveals that how we treat people matters profoundly. Jesus doesn't mince words: "Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me."

This isn't a political statement about left or right. It's a kingdom statement about up or down—about aligning our lives with heaven's values or remaining stuck in earthly selfishness.

When we feed the hungry, give drink to the thirsty, welcome the stranger, clothe the naked, care for the sick, and visit the imprisoned, we're serving Jesus Himself. When we ignore these needs, we're ignoring Him.

Imagine standing before Jesus and having Him pull up your social media feed. Would it reveal a person defined by love for others, or by hate, anger, and disgust? The church is never supposed to be characterized by the latter. We're called to love our enemies, turn the other cheek, and go the extra mile—especially for those we can't stand.

Be Fruitful

And then there's the parable of the talents (Matthew 25:14-30)—perhaps the most convicting of all.

A master entrusts his wealth to three servants before going on a journey. To one he gives five bags of gold, to another two, and to another one—each according to their ability. The first two servants invest what they've been given and double it. The third, paralyzed by fear, buries his single bag in the ground.

Here's what's crucial to understand: that single bag of gold was worth approximately $600,000 to $1 million in today's currency. The servant wasn't given a small amount. He was given a substantial sum—and he did absolutely nothing with it.

When the master returns, he commends the first two servants: "Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things." But to the third servant, he says, "You wicked, lazy servant," and takes even what he had.

This is what apathy looks like in the kingdom.

The Danger of Spiritual Apathy

We show up on Sunday morning, hear an inspiring sermon, feel moved, and then go home and do nothing. We sing worship songs that stir our hearts, and then live Monday through Saturday as if Jesus doesn't exist. We cycle through this pattern week after week, year after year—inspired but unchanged, moved but motionless.

This is why churches die.

The number one reason people come to church isn't the preaching, the music, or the production quality. It's because someone they know invited them. Someone cared enough to share the gospel and extend an invitation. People stay because they find a community that walks through life with them.

But this only happens when the church is fruitful—when believers take what God has given them and multiply it for His kingdom.

What Has God Given You?

God has given each of us unique talents, gifts, resources, and opportunities. Some are obvious—musical ability, teaching skills, financial resources. Others are hidden, waiting to be discovered and developed.

The parable of the talents isn't primarily about money or investing in the stock market. It's about using everything God has entrusted to us—our time, relationships, children, creativity, influence—for His glory and kingdom purposes.

The servant with one talent didn't love his master, and it showed in his lack of care. He masked his apathy by blaming the master and excusing himself. But his failure revealed his heart.

What does our response to God's gifts reveal about our hearts?

Everything Belongs to Him Anyway

Perhaps the most humbling realization is this: everything we have already belongs to God. Our brokenness, our imperfections, our talents, our resources—He's given us access to the kingdom through Jesus. It's our inheritance.

He's handed us the keys and simply asks: What are you doing with it?

This question applies to every area of life. How are we raising our children? What are we doing with our money? How are we investing our time? What are we doing with the community around us? Are we faithful with the church family God has given us?

If God gives us one talent, we should make two. If He gives us five, we should make ten. Whatever He entrusts to us, we're called to multiply for His kingdom.

Two Possible Endings

The parable is clear. At the end of your life, when you stand before the King, there are only two possible responses:

"Well done, good and faithful servant."

Or: "Depart from me. I never knew you."

There's no middle ground. No participation trophy for showing up. No credit for burying what He gave you and returning it unused.

The question remains: What are you doing with what God has entrusted to you?

Your answer will echo into eternity.

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