Albert Diones

Be still? Or Move? Parable of talents/minas

My thoughts about what I think is contradicting Christian ideas of letting go and actually doing something

I have always been contemplating about what seems to be contradicting idea between doing and waiting for God.

There are supporting bible verses for both and both side has it's own merit and values.

On the context of "doing instead of waiting", I think a very good supporting scripture is the parable of the talents, or the parable of ten minas, where, a king or a master is giving his 3 servants different amount of money, for them to invest to business and multiply.

Of all the servants, the one with the least amount of money given decided to bury the money so it won't be lost. When the master comes back, he commended the first 2 for earning profit from the capital they've been given, and was given even more authority and capital.

But for the servant that played it safe and earned zero profit, but also lost zero of the capital. He was given a severe punishment which if you take out of the context of being a religious parable, is too severe and barbaric. He was sent out to dark terrible place to die.

I think the lesson of this parable is if you are given something you have to do your best to make it thrive. For it to earn profit so you can present it to the giver when he comes back. And those who play it safe and try not to lose anything and earn anything is going to pay dearly, severely and almost with no mercy.

So I live my life in the "doing my best" side instead of always just waiting for God to do something, there is always those moment that you would end up not able to do anything, but to know that you have to have the wisdom. And on those time, I am happy to just let go and "be still"