Recently I listened to John Bevere’s newest book, “X – Multiply Your God-Given Potential” and now I’m reading it through. I just finished Chapter Thirteen; Hindrances To Multiplication and I want to share it with you. I’m finding this book is pushing me out of my comfort zones, beyond my skill levels, further into His realm of grace, so I can rise above my complacency and more boldly discover and pursue my destiny. The words below are virtually verbatim from John. I may summarize the last half of the chapter in the next post. merlin
First, we’ll dive into the motives and thoughts of the lazy steward of Jesus’s parable. Why did the other two servants each double their talents (5 to 10, 2 to 4) and the third only maintained? Why were servants one and two identified as “good and faithful,” while he was referred to as “wicked and lazy”?
Before continuing, let’s take some time to first establish a truth: When someone stands in the presence of Jesus, it is impossible to lie. Why am I mentioning this here? Let me explain with a trivial illustration. Have you ever watched an espionage movie and at one point during an interrogation, a “truth serum” is administered to expose hidden realities? The spy or double agent then reveals what he was sworn to conceal; the truth is uncovered.
Let’s turn to a real-life situation. In our early years of marriage, I was immature and insecure. There were incidents in which I behaved in a way that seemed acceptable at the time, until Lisa confronted me. In our discussions, I strongly defended my actions and motives. Often in these discussions, I’d boldly defend the accuracy of my statements! Later, while in prayer and in the presence of God, I’d realize she was spot on. I would return to Lisa in humility and admit my error.
The point: Deception, dishonesty, trickery, duplicity, and other similar behaviors cannot exist in the royal presence of God. Jesus states:
The time is coming when everything that is covered up will be revealed, and all that is secret will be made known to all. Whatever you have said in the dark will be heard in the light, and what you whispered behind closed doors, will be shouted from the housetops for all to hear! (Luke 12:2-3)
Jesus is speaking specifically of the judgement when it will be impossible to think or speak in a deceiving manner, truth will permeate the atmosphere and no lie or deceitful word will be uttered. The very fact that our stewardship parable represents the judgement means that we can be confident that the answer given by the lazy servant is accurate. He exposes himself, even when it accuses him.
There are two major factors behind why he didn’t eternally multiply:
He did not know the heart and character of His Master.
He was afraid.
These two reasons are given in order. The second is often, but not always, precipitated by the first, as ignorance of the heart and character of God easily arouses fear. This will be made clear as we continue to unpack both errors.
What I Believe
As we unpack the first error, let me tell you a story. I had just flown eight hours to Hawaii for a conference. Still in my travel clothes, waiting for my hotel room to be ready, I’d found a spot to rest under a poolside umbrella. It just so happened that a businesswoman was also waiting – she was attending a different conference. We got to talking, and once she discovered I was a Christian author and minister, she began to elaborate on her relationship with God.
It didn’t take more than a minute or two to realize that she did not know God. She kept confidently stating what she believed and very little corresponded to what Scripture reveals. While she was still expounding further on her beliefs, I asked the Holy Spirit for wisdom, and He showed me what to say.
When the woman finished her discourse, I asked, “Do you see the man sitting across the pool?”
“Why yes,” she responded.
“Allow me to tell you about him,” I said. “He’s a strict vegan – he doesn’t eat anything from an animal, not even honey. His dream is to be on the US Olympic Swim Team. He works out and practices nine hours a day. His hobbies are racquetball, tennis, skydiving, and painting. He’s married to that woman over there by the hot tub, and she’s ten years younger than he.”
The woman was intrigued but also a little confused as to why I would change the subject so abruptly. She had just shared her deep thoughts of God and, in turn, suddenly I am describing a man across the pool. Her curiosity got the best of her, so she asked, “Is he to attend the conference with you?”
“No, ma’am.”
“Well, how do you know him?” she asked even more curious.
“I’ve never met him.”
Now looking confused and concerned, she asked how I knew so much about him. I have no idea if this is correct, but by the look on her face, I’m guessing she might have thought I was CIA operative, an FBI agent, a detective, or even a stalker. Her curiosity had been piqued.
I paused, and then said to her, “That’s what I believe about him.”
She was speechless.
“You just spoke with such confidence of your belief of who God is,” I continued. “But almost everything you just said about Him is not true. I know this because I know Him.”
Then I turned, looked her straight in the eyes, and said, “What I just did with that man who I’ve never met before is no different than what you just did with God. I told you what I believe about the man across the pool, and I sounded quite convincing. But chances are that most of what I said isn’t, and the reason is, I’ve never taken the time to get to know him.”
The woman was listening and understandably, appeared slightly shaken.
“God gave us His Word, recorded on the pages of the Bible, that reveal who He is,” I said calmly. “He also sent His Spirit to reveal Jesus to us, who in turn shows us God Almighty, because He is God manifested in the flesh.”
I paused, and then said gently, “Do you think you may have made up an imaginary God in your mind, one who actually doesn’t exist?”
Sadly, either she was not ready to confront her lack of knowing God or she was scared to face the reality of meeting Him. We chatted for a few more minutes and soon afterwards parted ways.
You may or may not be smiling as you read my account, as you think, I know God, I go to church, and I have read the Bible. However, before any of us get too comfortable in that vein of thinking, we must remember the plight of the Pharisees. They had perfect church attendance, prayed and fasted regularly, and could quote the first five books of the Bible. Yet, they couldn’t recognize God manifested in the flesh – Jesus, standing right before them.
Knowing God
So, who does get the privilege of knowing God? All are invited, but there are established parameters. The door is open for an authentic relationship when we, from the core of our being, make the decision to give our life fully to Him. Not in pretense, but accompanied with corresponding actions. We don’t come to know God by attending church, surrounding ourselves with Christian friends, reading books, listening to worship music, repeating a “salvation” prayer, or even by doing good works.
I personally believe one of the greatest obstacles we’ve created to knowing God is the introduction of the “sinner’s prayer.” Our tradition typically looks like this: We sell a relationship with God almost as if we were marketing a product to a consumer. After a message or conversation, we say, “Do you want to know God? Do you want a relationship with your Creator? Then just pray this prayer: “Jesus, come into my life. I repent of my sins. I receive you as my Savior. Thank You for forgiving me and now making me a child of God.”
Next we announce the happy news to all present inviting them into fellowship. However, we’ve said nothing significant about repentance – their need to walk away permanently from a self-seeking lifestyle and lay their life down for Him. Listen to Jesus’s full statement as found in Matt. 16:24-24 from The Passion Translation (TPT):
“If you truly want to follow me, you should at once completely reject and disown your own life. And you must be willing to share My cross and experience it as your own, as you continually surrender to My ways. For if you choose self-sacrifice and lose your lives for My glory, you will continually discover true life. But if you choose to keep your lives for yourselves, you will forfeit what you try to keep.”
Knowing God is not a one-time event, but a firm decision to submit to his ways over what you think is best for you. The apostle James writes, “But don’t just listen to God’s Word. You must do what it says.. Otherwise, you are only fooling yourselves” (James 1:22). The person who hears God’s Word, yet is unresponsive in thought, word, and action, has fooled himself. The Passion Translation calls this “self-deception,” which I think accurately describes the third steward, the Pharisees, the woman at the pool in Hawaii, and many others I’ve encountered, who fully believe they are in relationship with God because they are in the “system” but living contrary to His Word. They are sadly misled. It is self-deception.
May I quickly make one important point. Lisa will tell you that she has made many mistakes in our marriage (I’ve made more but here I am focusing on her), but she has never purposefully sought her own desires at the expense of our marriage covenant. Her behavior has not been perfect, but her heart has never departed from steadfast loyalty.
Likewise, in our relationship with God, if we periodically disobey, He forgives. This is no different than a husband and wife not breaking their covenant relationship when a mistake is made. A relationship with our Creator is true loyalty from the heart, not lip service without authentic, corresponding actions.
Jesus makes the most remarkable statement: If anyone wills to do His will, he shall know…” (John7:17 NKJV). It begins in the core of our being; when we deeply desire to act on, not just hear. We do whatever He says and then we know. We recognize and know God and His Word. John 7:17 in TPT renders it beautifully: “First be passionate to do God’s will, and then you will be able to discern if my teachings are from the heart of God.”
In the parable of the talents, all three stewards heard the exact same instructions before the departure of their lord. Two put into action his instructions and one did nothing. It’s no coincidence that the third steward really didn’t know his master, so he regarded the importance of the instructions lightly. This steward was self-deceived, and was referred to as “wicked and lazy” rather than “good and faithful,” quite an explicit and unforgettable contrast!