Nothing Special

When your way of life is one that sets you apart from the world by default, it's easy to grow accustomed to that glaring difference and take it for granted.

Until, of course, that difference disappears.

That's what happened to me when I moved out to attend Ambassador BibleThe books (Greek, "biblia" ) that are acknowledged as canonical (authoritative) by the early Christian Church. It includes both the books of the ancient Hebrew prophets and those of the apostolic witnesses to Jesus Christ. Center in Cincinnati. Suddenly, I found in everyone around me the defining characteristics that had set me apart from the world. And just like that, I realized—I was nothing special.

The principle here is simple: a light shining in the darkness is impossible to ignore, while a light shining among other lights—though it certainly adds to the effect—is indistinguishable as a separate entity.

The Standard That Counts

That got me thinking—back home, there was little driving me to go above and beyond the required minimum, since that alone put me head and shoulders above most. But here's the thing: God couldn't care less about where we are in relation to everyone else. He cares about where we are in relation to Him. His laws. His statutes. His judgments.

Christ told His disciples that no servant is thanked for doing what he is commanded to do, concluding that "likewise you, when you have done all those things which you are commanded, say, 'We are unprofitable servants. We have done what was our duty to do'" (Luke 17:10So likewise ye, when ye shall have done all those things which are commanded you, say, We are unprofitable servants: we have done that which was our duty to do.
See All...).

From Useless to Useful

It's true that when God starts working with us, we're nothing special—but in Malachi 3:17And they shall be mine, saith the LORD of hosts, in that day when I make up my jewels; and I will spare them, as a man spareth his own son that serveth him.
See All..., God says of His followers, "'They shall be Mine,' says the LORD of hosts, 'on the day that I make them My jewels.'"

God intends to make us jewels. In the margin of many New King James Bibles is a note that "jewels" literally means "special treasure"—quite a transformation for a people who were originally the foolish, weak and base things of the world (1 Corinthians 1:27-28 [27] But God hath chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise; and God hath chosen the weak things of the world to confound the things which are mighty;
[28] And base things of the world, and things which are despised, hath God chosen, yea, and things which are not, to bring to nought things that are:

See All...).

Moving Forward

So how do we get from here to there? The answer lies in the parable of the talents (or minas) recorded in both Matthew 25:14-29 [14] For the kingdom of heaven is as a man travelling into a far country, who called his own servants, and delivered unto them his goods.
[15] And unto one he gave five talents, to another two, and to another one; to every man according to his several ability; and straightway took his journey.
[16] Then he that had received the five talents went and traded with the same, and made them other five talents.
[17] And likewise he that had received two, he also gained other two.
[18] But he that had received one went and digged in the earth, and hid his lord's money.
[19] After a long time the lord of those servants cometh, and reckoneth with them.
[20] And so he that had received five talents came and brought other five talents, saying, Lord, thou deliveredst unto me five talents: behold, I have gained beside them five talents more.
[21] His lord said unto him, Well done, thou good and faithful servant: thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord.
[22] He also that had received two talents came and said, Lord, thou deliveredst unto me two talents: behold, I have gained two other talents beside them.
[23] His lord said unto him, Well done, good and faithful servant; thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord.
[24] Then he which had received the one talent came and said, Lord, I knew thee that thou art an hard man, reaping where thou hast not sown, and gathering where thou hast not strawed:
[25] And I was afraid, and went and hid thy talent in the earth: lo, there thou hast that is thine.
[26] His lord answered and said unto him, Thou wicked and slothful servant, thou knewest that I reap where I sowed not, and gather where I have not strawed:
[27] Thou oughtest therefore to have put my money to the exchangers, and then at my coming I should have received mine own with usury.
[28] Take therefore the talent from him, and give it unto him which hath ten talents.
[29] For unto every one that hath shall be given, and he shall have abundance: but from him that hath not shall be taken away even that which he hath.

See All... and Luke 19:11-27 [11] And as they heard these things, he added and spake a parable, because he was nigh to Jerusalem, and because they thought that the kingdom of God should immediately appear.
[12] He said therefore, A certain nobleman went into a far country to receive for himself a kingdom, and to return.
[13] And he called his ten servants, and delivered them ten pounds, and said unto them, Occupy till I come.
[14] But his citizens hated him, and sent a message after him, saying, We will not have this man to reign over us.
[15] And it came to pass, that when he was returned, having received the kingdom, then he commanded these servants to be called unto him, to whom he had given the money, that he might know how much every man had gained by trading.
[16] Then came the first, saying, Lord, thy pound hath gained ten pounds.
[17] And he said unto him, Well, thou good servant: because thou hast been faithful in a very little, have thou authority over ten cities.
[18] And the second came, saying, Lord, thy pound hath gained five pounds.
[19] And he said likewise to him, Be thou also over five cities.
[20] And another came, saying, Lord, behold, here is thy pound, which I have kept laid up in a napkin:
[21] For I feared thee, because thou art an austere man: thou takest up that thou layedst not down, and reapest that thou didst not sow.
[22] And he saith unto him, Out of thine own mouth will I judge thee, thou wicked servant. Thou knewest that I was an austere man, taking up that I laid not down, and reaping that I did not sow:
[23] Wherefore then gavest not thou my money into the bank, that at my coming I might have required mine own with usury?
[24] And he said unto them that stood by, Take from him the pound, and give it to him that hath ten pounds.
[25] (And they said unto him, Lord, he hath ten pounds.)
[26] For I say unto you, That unto every one which hath shall be given; and from him that hath not, even that he hath shall be taken away from him.
[27] But those mine enemies, which would not that I should reign over them, bring hither, and slay them before me.

See All....

A master entrusts three of his servants with varying amounts of money and bids them, "Do business till I come" (Luke 19:13And he called his ten servants, and delivered them ten pounds, and said unto them, Occupy till I come.
See All...). When the master returns, he finds that only two of his servants have taken his command seriously and increased their funds.

The other, out of laziness or fear, buried his money in the ground. While he had not lost anything, he certainly had not gained anything, either. This servant is cast into outer darkness for being "wicked and lazy" (Matthew 25:26His lord answered and said unto him, Thou wicked and slothful servant, thou knewest that I reap where I sowed not, and gather where I have not strawed:
See All..., 29).

Likewise our Master, Jesus Christ, has entrusted us with certain gifts—most notably, God's Holy Spirit. When Christ returns, He expects to find us exercising what we were given to its fullest potential—not leaving it buried in the ground.

We are encouraged to be striving to go above and beyond what we've been given to do. At no point can we afford to become complacent or measure ourselves by any standard but God's.

Right now we may not be considered very special. However, God has entrusted each of us with individual talents that set us apart. If we are willing to develop and use them, we are on our way to becoming God's special treasures. UN