Heavenly Couch Potatoes?

Jesus said that the Kingdom of Heaven is like a man who went on a long trip. He called 3 servants and “delivered unto them his goods” (Matthew 24.14). He gave 5 talents to one servant, to another servant 2 talents, and to another 1 talent (to each man according to his own ability--He doesn't give anyone work that's too hard). Then the lord left.

Servant #1 immediately got to work and doubled his money. Servant #2 did the same. But Servant #3 took his talent and buried it. A long time later, the boss came back. He was very pleased with the work of Servant #1. Because #1 was faithful with the small task assigned to him, the lord said, “I will make you ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy Lord.” When #3 came however, he had nothing to offer but excuses, “I was afraid, and went and hid thy talent in the earth: lo, there thou hast that is thine.” The Lord told the servant that he was wicked and lazy and said he should at least have invested it. Servant #3 faced dire punishment.

How is this like the Kingdom of Heaven? Here's my take:

Our Lord, Jesus, no longer walks among men, but He has promised that He will come back one of these days in flaming fire. Earth is so small compared to heaven, but we, Christ’s servants, have been given talents to use and jobs to do. If we do our best for Jesus now, He’ll have much greater projects for us to do when He returns. If we fail in our little tasks and prove to be wicked and lazy, are we to think God will give us a place in the great work of His Kingdom?

Think of the business world: if someone is hired in a low position, he will have to do an excellent job if he wants to get promoted. If he does a bad job, he’ll stay in his low-paying job forever or get fired. A good business manager only promotes faithful, hardworking people. Well, the “Big Boss up in the Sky” is the best business manager of all. We were all a bunch of losers, condemned to death because of our sins. We had no chance of getting hired into His prestigious company. But His Son, Jesus, cared about and loved us so much that He took our place, died for us, and gave us a letter of recommendation in His name. Jesus arose from the dead, and all of us who believe in Jesus and ask Him for a letter of forgiveness and recommendation (on His merit) can join the company. The thing is, after you join up, you should love Jesus so much that you work hard at the small job He’s given you. When the Big Boss comes back for His inspection tour, let’s hope we hear Him say, “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. For some reason, I don’t quite believe I’ll be lounging around on feather pillows in the clouds when Christ returns to earth to execute judgment on all the injustice we see going unpunished today (in many cases injustice and corruption today is found in the very authorities whose sole task should be the execution of justice).

So, if you believe that Christ will return and the “Big Boss in the Sky” will rend the heavens and come down to execute perfect Justice in the earth one of these days, get ready. If God sees you lounging around and being lazy at your current post, won’t He see that as an indication you’re fit to be no more than an heavenly couch potato? Work on your relationship with Jesus. Do a good job using your talents here on earth so the good Lord knows you and knows you want to reign with Him--not be a heavenly couch potato--when power is given to the saints of the Most High.