“For no man can lay a foundation other than the one which is laid, which is Jesus Christ. Now if any man builds on the foundation with gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, straw—each man’s work will become evident; for the day will show it because it is to be revealed with fire, and the fire itself will test the quality of each man’s work. If any man’s work which he has built on it remains, he will receive a reward. If any man’s work is burned up, he will suffer loss; but he himself will be saved, yet so as through fire” (1 Cor. 3:11-15, NASB 1995).
Everyone builds their life on something. This includes even our thoughts. When we dwell on something, we are essentially building our life upon those thoughts. Our thoughts actually influence who we are and who we are becoming.
“For as he thinks within himself, so he is” (Prov. 23:7a),
Another element that we build our lives on is our words. What we say, we build our lives on, because our words, beloved ones, cause our lives to go in a certain trajectory. You are building your life by your words. Remember, James told us the story about a big ship that was controlled by a tiny rudder.
“Look at the ships also, though they are so great and are driven by strong winds, are still directed by a very small rudder wherever the inclination of the pilot desires” (James 3:4).
So it is my friends, with our tongue. What you say is going to steer the direction of your life, just like the tiny rudder of a large ship. Each of us holds the power to determine whether we are going to speak a word of anger or hold our anger. We have the power to gossip or not to gossip. We have the power to say, “I forgive you” or to ask for forgiveness. We have the power to bless, affirm or encourage someone, or to be spiteful and cold. We have the power to pick up the phone and reach out to build or reconcile a relationship. We have the power to determine whether we are going to tell somebody about Jesus or pray for them—or not.
What Paul was telling us:
Everybody builds their life on something. Either they are building it with precious stones of gold and silver, or they are building with wood, hay and stubble. And at the end of our life, our works will be tested. Some will be rewarded, and others are going to suffer loss. And what they have even will be taken away, because they did not even use the talents God gave them.
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“For it is just like a man about to go on a journey, who called his own slaves and entrusted his possessions to them. To one he gave five talents, to another, two, and to another, one, each according to his own ability; and he went on his journey. Immediately the one who had received the five talents went and traded with them, and gained five more talents. In the same manner the one who had received the two talents gained two more. But he who received the one talent went away, and dug a hole in the ground and hid his master’s money. Now after a long time the master of those slaves came and settled accounts with them. The one who had received the five talents came up and brought five more talents, saying, ‘Master, you entrusted five talents to me. See, I have gained five more talents.’ His master said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful slave. You were faithful with a few things, I will put you in charge of many things; enter into the joy of your master.’ Also the one who had received the two talents came up and said, ‘Master, you entrusted two talents to me. See, I have gained two more talents.’ His master said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful slave. You were faithful with a few things, I will put you in charge of many things; enter into the joy of your master.’ And the one also who had received the one talent came up and said, ‘Master, I knew you to be a hard man, reaping where you did not sow and gathering where you scattered no seed. And I was afraid, and went away and hid your talent in the ground. See, you have what is yours.’ But his master answered and said to him, ‘You wicked, lazy slave, you knew that I reap where I did not sow and gather where I scattered no seed. Then you ought to have put my money in the bank, and on my arrival I would have received my money back with interest. Therefore take away the talent from him, and give it to the one who has the ten talents’” (Matt. 25:14-29).
Beloved, God has given everyone talents. A talent is an ability. It is the gifting that Father has given us to be a blessing and to extend His kingdom on earth. Only you can determine what you do with your talents. You are the one who controls who you are going to speak to and what you are going to say. You are the one who determines whether you are going to hold your temper or not. You are the one who decides whether you are going to show love or not.
God is going to hold us responsible for what we think about and what we say. You and I are going to stand before Him at the great white throne judgment (Rev. 20: 11-13), and we are going to be held accountable.
Beloved, let us use our talents wisely for Him. Let us strive to reject any thoughts that are not from Him and only speak words that are edifying and pure. Let us make every effort, every day, to build our lives on the principles of the kingdom of God.
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Rabbi Kirt Schneider hosts the impactful television program “Discovering The Jewish Jesus,” which is available in more than 100 million homes in the United States and nearly 200 nations worldwide. In 2021 he began broadcasting on radio and now airs across America. Rabbi Schneider imparts revelation of Jesus’ Jewish heritage and His fulfillment of Messianic prophecy. Questions of how the Old and New Testaments tie together, and how Yeshua completes the unfolding plan of The Almighty Yahweh, are answered with exceptional clarity.
www.discoveringthejewishjesus.com/about-2/rabbi-schneider/
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