How do we deal with fear? By taking charge of our situation. By doing something instead of nothing. The two servants who invested the money the Master entrusted to them were probably afraid too, but they did something anyway. (See yesterday’s Catch.) If they had any fear at all, it was covered up by their activity. The third servant, however, was overcome with fear and did nothing. He sat on it, and God could do nothing with him because of his inactivity.
Fear rules where inactivity festers. Fear dissipates where activity flourishes.
Remember when the disciples were fearing for their lives on a stormy Sea of Galilee, and Jesus came to them walking on the water? Now they were even more afraid thinking they were seeing a ghost. But as soon as Peter saw that it was Jesus he asked if he could walk out to meet him. Jesus bade him come and for a while Peter too walked on water until he took his focus off of Christ and onto the storm and started sinking, requiring Jesus to reach out and rescue him.
Now compare Peter’s experience with that of the other eleven disciples on the boat. They are sitting there with nothing to do but shake with fear. Peter didn’t have time to worry; he was too busy acting on his faith. He had an idea. He was having an adventure because he chose to get out of the boat and do something. He took charge of the situation and turned it into a story we’re still talking about and learning from today. And even when he did get afraid out there on the water, when he took his eyes off of Jesus and started noticing the waves and the storm, Jesus was right there to rescue him.
Initiation dissipates fear. The “doing” is the best weapon against being afraid, because once we step out of the boat, the adventure begins. The choice is always ours – do nothing and be afraid, or do something and believe.
I’m not so sure the third servant was “afraid” as much as he might have been lazy, careless, a liar, spiteful and, to a lesser extent, fearful.
He knew the strictness of his Master and how to appropriately serve Him but maybe the servant thought he could easily skate by while the Master was away.
Perhaps he made plans for defecting to “greener pastures” during the Masters absence and buried the money to steal later on, but found life quite comfortable before the Masters sudden return.
Maybe he was resentful of the requirements his Master spelled out for His servants and this guy decided to retaliate and “teach his Master a lesson” through subtle defiance… nothing quite blatant enough to incur severe punishment but enough to show his proud independence.
This servant had fine examples that he could have learned from and emulated with the other “good and faithful” servants with whom he worked but maybe he just plain didn’t care or appreciate what living under the Master’s roof really meant and provided.
And, of course, he was afraid when was caught unprepared with nothing to show except feeble excuses.
There always had to be elements of fear because he stated he was afraid, but never more so than after being called to accounts.
It breaks my heart to know that many of us will be similarly caught.
It must hurt Jesus even more.
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The Lord is my light and my salvation; he protects me from danger—whom shall I fear? When evil men come to destroy me, they will stumble and fall! Yes, though a mighty army marches against me, my heart shall know no fear! I am confident that God will save me.
The one thing I want from God, the thing I seek most of all, is the privilege of meditating in his Temple, living in his presence every day of my life, delighting in his incomparable perfections and glory. There I’ll be when troubles come. He will hide me. He will set me on a high rock out of reach of all my enemies. Then I will bring him sacrifices and sing his praises with much joy.
Listen to my pleading, Lord! Be merciful and send the help I need.
My heart has heard you say, “Come and talk with me, O my people.” And my heart responds, “Lord, I am coming.”
Oh, do not hide yourself when I am trying to find you. Do not angrily reject your servant. You have been my help in all my trials before; don’t leave me now. Don’t forsake me, O God of my salvation. For if my father and mother should abandon me, you would welcome and comfort me.
Tell me what to do, O Lord, and make it plain because I am surrounded by waiting enemies. Don’t let them get me, Lord! Don’t let me fall into their hands! For they accuse me of things I never did, and all the while are plotting cruelty. I am expecting the Lord to rescue me again, so that once again I will see his goodness to me here in the land of the living.
Don’t be impatient. Wait for the Lord, and he will come and save you! Be brave, stouthearted, and courageous. Yes, wait and he will help you.
~ Psalm 27 (LB)
Shalom, Peace …