The Really Important Job

“And to one he gave five talents, to another two, and to another one…”(Matthew 25:15, NKJV)

When describing how His kingdom worked, it’s interesting to me that Jesus made no value statements about the assignments He gave out.  He didn’t even say what they were! 

That does not reflect our day.

You never hear a parent proudly say, “Let me tell you about my son the hamburger flipper!”

Your daughter would be celebrated if you announced that she had made it to the executive suite or the corporate boardroom but there would be an awkward silence if you celebrated the fact that she was an efficient homemaker and a mother of three.   

Society definitely has a pecking order when it comes to dealing out assignments and awards. 

But God has a different standard.

Here’s how Jesus expressed it: “What man of you, having a hundred sheep, if he loses one of them, does not leave the ninety-nine in the wilderness, and go after the one which is lost until he finds it?”  (Luke 15:4, NKJV)

Let me get this straight, Jesus is recommending that I put ninety-nine sheep in jeopardy by leaving them in the wilderness alone in order to find one!?

Wow!  That must be a very important sheep. 

Jesus would say, “No more important than any other sheep.”  Then he’d remind us, “All sheep are important.” 

Turns out, in Jesus’ kingdom there are no unimportant jobs or insignificant people.  All jobs matter and all people are important. 

What matters is whether or not we are good and faithful stewards of what has been given to us.

The ONE THING for today: The most important job is the one that’s been given you. 

Your current responsibilities is your little bit of the kingdom of Heaven that has put in your care.  Like a mother holding her newborn child, hold it tightly, treasure it deeply, and dream of what it can be.  And then get to work on that dream.  That’s the really important job. 

Photo by Aaron Burden on Unsplash