What the Bible says about Spiritual Productivity
(From Forerunner Commentary)

Ecclesiastes 1:12-13 God subjected the creation to futility, and He did it in hope. He did it because He wants us to think about how life is whenever He allows human nature to have sway, to dominate what happening on earth and in our lives. Do we want to live this way? Do we want life to be permanently this way? Is there a better way? Are we willing to do something about it so we are part of a better way, one that is not subject to futility but permanent, enduring, and filled with productivity, joy, and a sense of well-being that never ends? Which way do we want? God wants us to go the right way, so He has subjected us to living within it as a prod and reminder. John W. Ritenbaugh Ecclesiastes and the Feast of Tabernacles (Part 1) Related Topics: Impermanence | Impermanence of Physical Things | Joy | Permanence of God | Productivity | Spiritual Productivity | Subjection to Futility | Vanity of Physical life

Matthew 25:16-18 Since the servants did not know how long their master would be gone, they began trading without delay. The one with five talents increased his by 100%, as did the servant with two talents. In each case, their original assets were doubled. If the servant with one talent had just worked by trading with it, his reward would have been the same. The motivation for service and producing good fruit should be love for the Master, a virtue the servant with one talent lacked. Sadly, he failed to trade with his talent and multiply it. Fearing his master's severity, he wrapped his lord's asset in a handkerchief and hid it in a hole in the earth. Fear is a sad thing when a person dreads losing something valuable so much that he hoards it instead of putting it to good use. So it is with a spiritual gift also. While his fellow-servants were actively trading their talents, the third servant was idle. He was neither actively obedient nor disobedient, but passively disobedient. He did not intend to hurt his master's property; he simply failed to improve it. Similar to the foolish virgins suffering because they neglected to prepare, the third servant in this parable suffers because he did nothing with his talent. We must not hide our light under a basket (Matthew 5:14-16). Spiritual talents must be used in service to Christ for the glory of God - for the joy and honor of Him who is the Giver of every good gift (I Corinthians 10:31; James 1:17). Martin G. Collins Parable of the Talents (Part Two) Related Topics: Disobedience, Passive | Fear | Fearfulness | Motivation for Service | Parable of the Talents | Passive Disobedience | Spiritual Gifts | Spiritual Gifts, Neglect of | Spiritual Neglect | Spiritual Productivity | Spiritual Timidity | Stewardship | Stewardship of Talents

 

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