As 2020 slowly slips into our memory banks and people press on towards a brighter and more cheerful New Year, it is easy to let go and simply say, “onward”. Let go of the frustration, let go of the turmoil, let go of the angst. While we all wish (and sometimes believe) it is that easy. However, no change or “letting go” happens without reflection and action.
Towards the tail-end of November, I came across a book a friend gave me years back. It is called, 9 Things You Simply Must Do: To Succeed In Love And Life, by Dr. Henry Cloud. At first glance I thought this was another cliché “self-help” book that was going to help me retire in my beach home cottage. Upon reading the first few chapters I learned that it is much more than “self-help” and Dr. Henry Cloud is a follower of Jesus. He also is the co-author of the book Boundaries, which I have not read, but have heard good things. Though Dr. Cloud does have biblical narratives sprinkled into his writing, I found myself reflecting more and more on his nine principles through scripture.
For the next nine weeks, I am going to dive deep into each principle through the lens of scripture while also applying them to our lives. The goal is to help us reflect and take action steps towards growth, rather than simply washing the bad tastes out of our mouth.
Reflection
In the church, the term “gifts” is used quite frequently. Upon the spectrum of various church experiences it can mean different things to different people. In the Pentecostal community, one’s mind might immediately go towards speaking in tongues or healing. In more conservative circles, gifts boil down to teaching, music, or generosity. While I do not believe there is inherent fault in either lines of thinking, too far on either side of the spectrum can be harmful.
Since COVID-19 reached the borders of the Western Hemisphere and churches, restaurants, and any other luxury we had closed down, people began feeling a haul of emotions. In the context of the church (specifically my context, which is not having a building at all) there was a sweeping feeling like we should be doing more, but can’t. There is “stuff” out there we could be doing, but we’re not. A corporate angst that seemed like a brush fire that was inching its way towards the forest.
Dr. Henry Cloud states, “The invisible world is always where the visible originates” (22). To add to that, I believe that as humans we not only become consumed by external circumstances, but we also become dependent on them. C.S Lewis in the Screwtape Letters words it perfectly. Screwtape coaching his nephew Wormwood on how to affect his patients mind concerning the War explains, “Tortured fear and stupid confidence are both desirable states of mind” (67). During this past year I have seen and heard both “tortured fear” and “stupid confidence”. Both producing unhealthy and unbiblical reactions. My questions is, why?
Dig It Up
In Matthew 25:14-30, Jesus tells a parable about a man going on a journey who gave three of his servants five, two, and one talents, “each according to his ability” (15). Two out of the three put their money to work and doubled it. The man with one buried his and when his master returned suffered greatly.
However, the man with one talent had his excuses. “I knew that you were a hard man, harvesting where you have not sown and gathering where you have not scattered seed” (stupid confidence). He continues, “So I was afraid and went out and hid your talent in the ground” (tortured fear). In his case, we can see he was both confident in his reasoning, as well as fearful. How often do those two coincide?
The master’s spurn occurs because the servant had an opportunity, and did nothing. The servant didn’t just bury his gifts, he buried his potential.
As I reflected on this in my own life, I wondered how many things have I buried that can be used for God’s glory? Things that can be used in my marriage, my work, or my own dreams?
One thing that stood out to me in the parable is how the master doesn’t tell the servants how to invest their talents, he just gives the talents to them to be used according their abilities. It is up to the servants to use what was entrusted to them wisely.
No one can force me to use my talents (both uses of the word). It is up to me to dig it up. To find what is down there that God has entrusted me with, including dreams, passions, and goals.
Rocks
I am not a proficient gardener or hole digger in general, but I know enough about dirt to know that there is usually a few rocks below the surface that obstruct the digging process. This can add time and be tasking, but to find what is buried it is absolutely necessary.
Again, I am speaking of the invisible things that turn into the visible. As Dr. Cloud puts it, “There are no benign tumors of the heart. They all spread their cancer into the visible world, where they destroy all that one is trying to build” (35). In order to get to our “talents” that may be buried we must pull up some rocks. This process may be grueling and maybe even painful, but necessary to get to the treasure.
Angst may turn into anger which turns into resentment. Disappointment may turn into loneliness which turns into depression. All of which affect the visible world. Relationships (with each other and God), work, and church. Just to name a few.
But we bury them, just like we will try to bury this past year. Just like we’ll try to bury COVID or the election. What we don’t realize is by doing so we are making it harder to reach our “talents.”
Don’t push away the negative feelings or thoughts, dig them up. Bring them into the light and expose them. Don’t brush off the disappointment and unfulfillment — ask where it’s coming from, because underneath might lay a “talent” that has been needing to come up for awhile.
Jesus, as he was with all things, was the master of digging up the rocks in peoples lives only to find their treasure. He renamed Peter, “Rock,” because of Peter’s bold confession of Jesus being the Christ. Yet even after Peter denies Jesus, Jesus reinstates him. Jesus stops the Pharisees from stoning an adulterer, yet charges her to leave her life of sin. A less vindicated example is the rich young ruler who asked Jesus what he must do to inherit eternal life. He asked Jesus what rocks were in his way, and Jesus responded, “If you want to be perfect, go, sell, your possessions and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven” (21, Italics added).
Jesus saw the invisible that was obstructing the visible. When the rich young man was challenged to dig those things up, he “went away sad, because he had great wealth.”
Which leads to the second point, the treasure we bury.
Treasure
Jesus famously said, “For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also” (21). When reading scripture like this one (or all scripture for that matter) we must remember originally the texts were written as one continuous piece of literature. There were no chapters, verses, or headings. That is why one of my favorite words in scripture is “therefore.”
Matthew 6:19-24 has a lot in it — treasures on earth, moths, eyes, lamps, God, and money. But verses 25-34 start with “therefore.” What does that tell us? It tells us why we shouldn’t store up for ourselves treasures on earth. When we read “therefore,” our ears should perk up, our attention should be focused. We cannot read verses 19-24 without talking about verses 25-34. The “therefore” is the ring that binds them together.
Jesus simply points out that we should not worry about material things (even food and drink) because our treasure is found in the invisible that affects our visible world. He pins it by saying, “But seek first his (your heavenly Father’s) kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well” (33).
So what does this have to do with gifts and “talents”? As mentioned in the parable, the master was furious with his servant because his servant buried his opportunity and potential. Our gifts and abilities are gifts from God. Yes, there are skills and accolades that we worked for, but was that not why the rich young ruler walked away sad? Because everything he “earned” was being asked of him?
As reflections of a creative, imaginative, and innovative God, we are given gifts, resources, and more importantly, a spirit, to use those things for God’s glory.
There are countless reasons why people bury their potential, as I have done countless times. But to do so is to bury treasure. The only alternative is to dig it up.
Closing
Being part of a small church community, I have personally been able to see people’s gifts and abilities flourish. I have grown personally in ways that would not have been possible without the brothers and sisters that have pushed and encouraged me. However, this past year has challenged us all. Emotionally, spiritually, and communally.
My prayer and challenge is that we all pick up our shovels and picks and start digging. Together. C.S Lewis points out that the angels in Isaiah 6:3 were “calling to one another” saying, “Holy, holy, holy is the Lord Almighty; the whole earth is full of his glory” (3). Each angel calling out the glory it sees.
My challenge for us is this:
Pray/repent (pull up some rocks).
Write down your gifts (anything and everything).
Write down what takes up most of your time in a day/week.
Write down what is possible (how could your gifts and talents be used for God’s glory).
Collaborate (reach out to your community and connect).
I want to call out Gods glory in each person I see. In how they’ve been blessed to be a blessing.
The church is meant to be blessed to be a blessing.
So together, let us not continue on without laboring in the dirt and dust. Relieving each other of the rocks that have hardened the soil, and bring to light the treasure God has laid within us since the beginning of time.
As Paul says to the Corinthians, “But we have this treasure in jars of clay to show that this all-surpassing power is from God and not from us” (7). Let us not bury it.
References
1 Cor. 4:7; Matt. 25:14-30, 19:21; 6:19-24, 25-34; Isa. 6:3.
Cloud, Henry. (2004). ‘9 Things You Simply Must Do: To Succeed In Love And Life’. MJF Books. (22, 35).
Lewis, C.S. (1959). ‘The Screwtape Letters’. MacMillan Publishing Company. (67).