Thought for the Week
Hurray, it’s school holiday time! Oh dear, it’s school holiday time! I wonder which of these best sums up how you feel.
In the run-up to the holidays there are prize ceremonies, sports days, school shows and all sorts of events which provide various landmarks. In their own way they all celebrate achievement.
They look back on what children have achieved in a one-off event, over the course of a school year or over a whole school career. They are important for encouraging and rewarding.
Jesus told a parable about a man who was going on a journey so he entrusted his servants with his property.
He gave one five talents, another two talents and the final servant was entrusted with one talent. They were told to put these to use.
The first and second doubled what they had been given, ending up with 10 and four talents respectively. The third servant buried his talent and did nothing.
When the master returned he asked his servants to account for what they had been given. The first two were rewarded for their diligence but the third servant was banished for his laziness.
One of the points Jesus was making was that it isn’t how much we have that is important or how talented we are that is crucial.
It is what we do with what we have been given.
For Christians this raises the issue of how faithfully we serve God. Part of that service is to use our talents and our possessions to make the lives of others better.
Congratulations to all whose achievements have been recognised.
Let’s all resolve to use whatever gifts we have been given for the good of all.
If you’ve got holidays coming up – enjoy. William Wilson, Minister, Burnside Blairbeth Church.