我们会得到基督的称赞吗?
马太福音二十五章14至30节
14天国又好比一个人要往外国去,就叫了仆人来,把他的家业交给他们,
15按着各人的才干,给他们银子,一个给了五千,一个给了二千,一个给了一千,就往外国去了。
16那领五千的随即拿去做买卖,另外赚了五千;
17那领二千的也照样另赚了二千;
18但那领一千的去掘开地,把主人的银子埋藏了。
19过了许久,那些仆人的主人来了,和他们算账。
20那领五千银子的又带着那另外的五千来,说:‘主啊,你交给我五千银子,请看,我又赚了五千。’
21主人说:‘好!你这又良善又忠心的仆人,你在不多的事上有忠心,我要把许多事派你管理;可以进来享受你主人的快乐。’
22那领二千的也来,说:‘主啊,你交给我二千银子,请看,我又赚了二千。’
23主人说:‘好!你这又良善又忠心的仆人,你在不多的事上有忠心,我要把许多事派你管理;可以进来享受你主人的快乐。’
24那领一千的也来,说:‘主啊,我知道你是忍心的人,没有种的地方要收割,没有散的地方要聚敛,
25我就害怕,去把你的一千银子埋藏在地里。请看,你的原银子在这里。’
26主人回答说:‘你这又恶又懒的仆人!你既知道我没有种的地方要收割,没有散的地方要聚敛,
27就当把我的银子放给兑换银钱的人,到我来的时候,可以连本带利收回。
28夺过他这一千来,给那有一万的!
29因为凡有的,还要加给他,叫他有余;没有的,连他所有的也要夺过来。
30把这无用的仆人丢在外面黑暗里,在那里必要哀哭切齿了。’
信息分享
这个比喻清楚告诉我们,基督现在只是暂时离去,将来终必回来。在这段期间,祂会将一种或多种「恩赐」交给祂的仆人,要祂们运用所得的恩赐来服侍祂。
正如比喻中的仆人一样,有些基督徒一直忠心耿耿地运用本身的属灵恩赐来服侍基督。他们有些得到几种恩赐,有些只有一种或两种恩赐;但不管有多少恩赐,最重要是运用恩赐来服侍基督、传扬福音和帮助别人,而不是用来荣耀自己。
至于那个把恩赐收藏起来的仆人,又该如何解释呢?我们不能说他因此失去救恩。这个比喻的用意是要指出,我们要用恩赐忠心服侍,而非谈论是否失去救恩。
我们不要太关注比喻或类比的某些细节,却要明白比喻的中心喻意。主人离开仆人(信徒)期间,仆人有责任要运用所得的恩赐来服侍主。最终我们要对祂有所交代。
谨记:「因为我们众人必要在基督台前显露出来,叫各人按着本身所行的,或善或恶受报。」(林后五10)
WILL CHRIST SAY TO US 'WELL DONE'?
Matthew 25:14-30
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 So take the talent from him, and give it to him who has ten talents.
29 ‘For to everyone who has, more will be given, and he will have abundance; but from him who does not have, even what he has will be taken away.
30 And cast the unprofitable servant into the outer darkness. There will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.’
Message
The parable teaches clearly that Christ was going away for an extended period but would finally return. In the meantime he would give his servants one or more 'talents' to be used for him. We could call these 'gifts'.
Just as in the parable, some Christians are faithfully using their spiritual gifts for Christ. Some have several gifts. Others may have only one or two. But whatever we have we are to use them for the sake of Christ, the spread of the Gospel message and to help others. They are not for our own benefit or glory.
What about the man who hid his one talent rather than use it for the master? This part of the story cannot be used to prove a Christian can lose his salvation. This parable is about accountability for service, not about our security in Christ.
As with all parables and analogies, some details cannot be applied. It is the central message which is important. While the Master is away his servants (all believers) have a responsibility to serve him and to use the gifts he has given to each one. He will hold us accountable.
Remember: 'We must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, that each one may receive what is due him for the things done in the body.' 2 Corinthians 5:10.

