For [the kingdom], it will be like a man going on a journey who called his servants and entrusted to them his property. To one, he gave five talents; to another two, to another one, to each according to his ability. Then he went away. He who had received the five talents went at once and traded with them, and he made five talents more. So also he who had the two talents made two talents more. (Matthew 25:14-17)
Among all the things we could say about Zachery Harris Johnson, something that could never be said is, “Zach never lived up to his potential.” Anyone who closely follows golf knows Zach “punches above his weight class.”
Most of us would have underestimated this number two player out of Drake University, who had a noticeably strong grip, brisk tempo, shortish swing, and lined up with his hands behind the ball when putting.
But here we are two decades into his career. We look up and see a guy who unintentionally hits the ball on his practice swing with two Majors (i.e., The 2007 Masters and 2015 Open), plus twelve (12) PGA Tour victories and five (5) Ryder Cup Appearances; talk about the “little engine that could.”
Most of us would agree we are talking about a Hall of Fame career. This guy can flat-out “golf his ball.” Leaving aside all the critiques and counter-critiques of his recent Ryder Cup Captaincy, I wouldn’t hesitate to choose Zach if I ever needed someone in my corner.
What are we saying? We are saying that when it comes to golf, Zach has taken the gifts the Good Lord gave him and made the most out of them. This is also true of his commitment to “faith and family.” In short, if we had to judge (i.e., evaluate) his life until this point, this guy gets an “A+.”
Speaking of judgment, how are we to be judged? The idea of “the Judgment” usually conjures vague visions about appearing before the Almighty. And, of course, those who refuse to follow Christ should be profoundly afraid.
But appearing before God will be inexplicably amazing for those who have trusted Christ. Clothed in the righteousness of Christ, the believer has nothing for which to be afraid. We are, as Paul says, “accepted in the Beloved.” As the hymn writer pens it, “Love so amazing, so divine, demands my soul, my life, my all….”
But here’s the thing. As believers, we will also account for what we’ve done with our lives. That is, the Lord has entrusted to us gifts, talents, and graces that we are to steward for his glory and the good of others.
In today’s text, the Master entrusted three men with talents (i.e., large sums of money) and instructed them to manage their stewardship until he returned. To one, he gave five talents; to another, two skills; and to another, he gave one talent.
The first two men invested their talents and grew their portfolio. The third, a slothful man, buried his talent and failed in his stewardship. When the Master returned, the first two men were praised, given more talents, and invited into the happiness of the Lord; the third man had failed.
By common agreement, among all the things this parable teaches us, it teaches us to live and work in such a way that when the Lord returns, he will say, “Well done, you good and faithful servant, enter into my joy.”
Every staff member called to serve the Lord in the vocational ministry at Links Players is committed, by grace, to steward their gifts “as unto the Lord.” Each of us is living for the day when we hear the Lord say, “Well done, my good and faithful servant.”
We “live and breathe” to see men and women come to know the amazing grace of God found in the person and work of Jesus Christ.
Should the Lord prompt you to invest in our evangelistic ministry, we would say in advance, “ A Huge Thank You!”
Prayer: Lord! We love you and love serving you in the advancement of your kingdom.