The talents.
From the conception we have been given talents. Even before we were born God already planned our purpose and which talents were going to accompany us. Jeremiah 1:5 talks to us about God’s plans for the prophet as an example of his plans for us. And our talents and gifts are supposed to instill in us a quest towards our purpose in life. God’s plans for us are great, they are not small and insignificant. One famous scripture is Jeremiah 29:11 where God outlines the purpose of his plans for us, which are for us to have peace and a future. So, the question is how will you react once you find out that great and mighty plan God has for you? In the parable of the talents Matthew writes that there were three individuals whose lord gave talents too. And two of them without fear took their talents and invested them to multiplying them towards a great gain, but one did not (Mt25:24-28). Because of fear he hid his talent, and then gave it back to his lord without any gains. The fear of what’s to gain from using his talent caused him to hide it and suffer lose.
Matthew 25:24-28
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.
King Saul found himself before his kingship at a disadvantage because of fear. The people of Israel became tired of have God and his judges to rule over them, they wanted to be like every other nation with have a king to rule. So, they insisted Samuel to ask God to give them a king and he did, king Saul. Now Saul was from the tribe of Bengamin and Matri which was the smallest tribe in Israel. Though his father was a man of power they were the lowest of their tribe. His social status was not of a king. He was a little below the common man, though he had appearance of a king; a handsome, tall young man (1Sam9:21). But God’s calling was on him, he had told Samuel to anoint him as king over his people. In order for Saul to exercise his calling something had to happen to him, he needed a change of heart. Jeremiah tells us that God will give us a new heart in order for us to know him (Jer24:7). Saul’s heart was changed once he was anointed with his calling (1Sa10:9).
Once all the prophecies were fulfilled and his heart was changed, the old man in him was revived and he feared. When the time was come for him to take over the kingdom the scriptures says that they could not find him, so they called on the Lord and he pointed to him hiding in the baggage (1Sm10:21-22). Fear caused king Saul to lose his kingdom.
Jeremiah 1:5
5 Before I formed thee in the belly I knew thee; and before thou camest forth out of the womb I sanctified thee, and I ordained thee a prophet unto the nations.
Jeremiah 29:11
11 For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the Lord, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end.
1 Samuel 9:21
21 And Saul answered and said, Am not I a Benjamite, of the smallest of the tribes of Israel? and my family the least of all the families of the tribe of Benjamin? wherefore then speakest thou so to me?
Jeremiah 24:7
7 And I will give them an heart to know me, that I am the Lord: and they shall be my people, and I will be their God: for they shall return unto me with their whole heart.
1Samuel 10:9
9 And it was so, that when he had turned his back to go from Samuel, God gave him another heart: and all those signs came to pass that day.
1 Samuel 10:21-22
21 When he had caused the tribe of Benjamin to come near by their families, the family of Matri was taken, and Saul the son of Kish was taken: and when they sought him, he could not be found. 22 Therefore they enquired of the Lord further, if the man should yet come thither. And the Lord answered, Behold he hath hid himself