I recently broke something of great personal value. It was a cake plate that has been in my family for at least three generations. For 20 years, I have kept this cake plate safely hidden, fearing if I used it, I would somehow break it. After having it out and thinking it needed washing, I inadvertently knocked something on top of it. After all these years of using extreme caution, one second was all it took for the pedestal to be broken. I was heart sick, but the Lord immediately brought to my mind the Parable of the Talents.
“For the kingdom of heaven is like a man traveling to a far country, who called his own servants and delivered his goods to them. And to one he gave five talents, to another two, and to another one, to each according to his own ability; and immediately he went on a journey. Then he who had received the five talents went and traded with them, and made another five talents. And likewise he who had received two gained two more also. But he who had received one went and dug in the ground, and hid his lord's money. After a long time the lord of those servants came and settled accounts with them. So he who had received five talents came and brought five other talents, saying, 'Lord, you delivered to me five talents; look, I have gained five more talents besides them.' His lord said to him, 'Well done, good and faithful servant; you were faithful over a few things, I will make you ruler over many things. Enter into the joy of your lord.' He also who had received two talents came and said, 'Lord, you delivered to me two talents; look, I have gained two more talents besides them.' His lord said to him, '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.' Then he who had received the one talent came and said, 'Lord, I knew you to be a hard man, reaping where you have not sown, and gathering where you have not scattered seed. And I was afraid, and went and hid your talent in the ground. Look, there you have what is yours.' But his lord answered and said to him, 'You wicked and lazy servant, you knew that I reap where I have not sown, and gather where I have not scattered seed. So you ought to have deposited my money with the bankers, and at my coming I would have received back my own with interest. So take the talent from him, and give it to him who has ten talents. 'For to everyone who has, more will be given, and he will have abundance; but from him who does not have, even what he has will be taken away. Matt 25:14-29.
There are many things apart from cake plates that we keep hidden away in fear: money for fear we will have none, possessions we are afraid of losing or breaking; talents such as singing, teaching, or writing because we fear we are not 'good enough'. But there are greater things we keep hidden from the world: compassion for fear of being used; love for fear of a broken heart; our Christianity for fear of being persecuted or ridiculed. We fail to remember that we have not been given a “spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind” (2 Tim 1:7).
When we keep these things hidden from the world, we deprive all those who may hear of a blessing. In our fear, we fail to give God praise and glory. God has given us all for His good purpose, but we selfishly hold on to them- sustaining ourselves, while those searching for a light in the darkness perish.
If we continue to hide these things, will they not be taken away also?