This principle is true of anything in your life — time, money, effort, energy, talent or abilities. If you don't use it, you lose it. "The master says, 'Take the talent from him and give it to the one who has ten talents.'" (Matt. 25:28, NIV) That doesn't seem fair! The rich get richer and the talented get more talented. But it is fair. God has the right to take away anything that I don't use for him. He gave it to me in the first place. He has the right to do that. I forfeit it if I don't use it. It's a universal law: if I don't use my muscles I lose my muscles. If I don't use my mind, I lose it — it becomes mentally dull. If I don't use the opportunities God has given me in business, sports, ministry, whatever, I lose the opportunities. If I don't practice my talent, I lose my talent. Use it or lose it.
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Just start using what you have been given for God. If you find you need more energy, use what you've got for God and watch what happens. Little becomes much when you put it in the master's hand. If I need more time, I give my time to God. If I need more money, I give my money to God. If I need more talent, I give my talent to God. Watch him multiply it — just like the five loaves and two fish. He multiples it when we place it in the Master's hand.
This is the test. This is why you're here on earth. The rewards: "His Master replied, 'Well done good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things — I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your Master's happiness!'" (Matt. 25:21, NIV)
God promises three rewards:
Affirmation — "Well done." I can't think of anything better than to stand before Jesus Christ and have him say, "Good job, Rick. Good job! You really tried!"
Promotion — He says, "I'm going to give you greater responsibility. You've been faithful with little things; I'll trust you with more." God can't trust many of us with great blessings because we're not faithful with the little.
Celebration — He says, "Come and share your master's happiness." The happiest people I know are those who are using what they have for God.
When God does an audit on your life — and it is coming — is it going to show a profit or a loss? A negative or positive? Is he going to say, "Well done!" or "Lazy servant!" What's it going to show? I shudder to think some of the excuses I will have to give for earlier in my life when I did nothing! I was basically living for myself. To stand before a Savior with pierced hands and have him say, "Why did you never even make an attempt to get involved in a ministry? You were so busy doing your own thing!"