Marsha's Musings: Reflections on this Week's Sermon

We've had some convicting sermons at church lately. This week it was on the parable of the talents in Matthew 25. I think the point that stood out to me most was that we are not to be idle servants of God. All of the servants with the exception of one took the talents (money) that their master entrusted to them and found ways to improve upon them so that when he returned he had more money than when he left. The one servant who didn't do anything with the talent he was in charge of, was condemned as unworthy because of his idleness.

The talents represent to us today, our abilities, money, time, even our bodies. It represents anything that God has given us that we can use to bring glory to His name. We are not to be idle with those things. We are to use them and improve upon them to bring honor and glory to God.

This dove tails nicely with a saying I have had going in my head this week.

The wise man does at once what the fool does at last.

I don't remember who said this, but if I come across it I will be sure to add it. I have struggled with idleness because of some of the health issues I have right now. It's easier to just sit down and not do what needs to be done when it needs to be done. With God's help I intend to work at not being unnecessarily idle.

One way I can do this is to get back to the fifteen minute rule. This works well for those who have health issues. Choose a task that you need to work on. Set the timer for 15 minutes and work at it. When the timer goes off, take 5 or 10 minutes to rest. Then go back for another 15 minutes. You can accomplish a lot of stuff using this method and not wear yourself out too bad in the process.

Even when you have to sit down or lay down because you physically can't go anymore for a bit, you can avoid being idle by praying, or reading good material, or listening to good music as you relax.

With God's help I plan to work on avoiding the sin of idleness.