God Takes Away From The Wicked And Gives To The Righteous

In 1 Chronicles 19, we learn how the children of Ammon went against David to battle, even though David’s only intent was to show them kindness. This was not a wise choice, for God was with David and his men, and not people that fight against God. Because of this, they were defeated in battle, which leads us to chapter 20. Now, with all things with God, when a person goes against Him, we learn that they are destroyed in this life or the next. We can’t wage war against God and his people while expecting victory in the end. There will always be consequences after the fact, lest a person repents and gets right with God. For example, when the children of Ammon were defeated, what they possessed was given to the children of Israel instead. Even their king’s crown was put upon David’s head instead. It was recorded ¹“that after the year was expired, at the time that kings go out to battle, Joab led forth the power of the army, and wasted the country of the children of Ammon, and came and besieged Rabbah. But David tarried at Jerusalem. And Joab smote Rabbah, and destroyed it. And David took the crown of their king from off his head, and found it to weigh a talent of gold, and there were precious stones in it; and it was set upon David’s head: and he brought also exceeding much spoil out of the city.” (1 Chronicles 20:1,2) Now you may wonder how is this relevant to us now? Well, my friends, we have much to learn here. And for this reason, we will be looking at Matthew 25 and the parable of the talents. Then we will understand that God gives to the righteous and takes away from the wicked. The realization of many of these blessings is experienced while on earth, as we saw what happened with the children of Israel gaining the spoil from the children of Ammon. We will also obtain more blessings bestowed to us when we go to heaven one day.

For you to understand the full parable of the talents, you must read Matthew 25, verses 14 through 30. As for this study, we will read a portion of this parable, which reads, ²“for the kingdom of heaven is as a man travelling into a far country, who called his own servants, and delivered unto them his goods. And unto one he gave five talents, to another two, and to another one; to every man according to his several ability; and straightway took his journey. Then he that had received the five talents went and traded with the same, and made them other five talents. And likewise he that had received two, he also gained other two. But he that had received one went and digged in the earth, and hid his lord’s money.” (Matthew 25:15-18) So we learn that there are three different types of individuals mentioned here. Two of them took what God gave them, even though it was different amounts, and doubled it. These people were blessed in the end by Jesus, our Judge, because of this. However, the one the hid his one talent was not blessed but punished by God. He took ²“the talent from him, and give it unto him which hath ten talents. For unto every one that hath shall be given, and he shall have abundance: but from him that hath not shall be taken away even that which he hath. And cast ye the unprofitable servant into outer darkness: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.” (Matthew 25:28-30) Now, please understand the gravity of the situation of going against God and not doing anything with what He gives us. These people are in trouble with God. Therefore, they are punished when they die and are cast into the lake of fire. God does give more blessings to people that do more for His kingdom on earth, so think about what you are doing for God.

Let us pray:
Oh Lord, thank You for all that You do for us. Surely, as we seek Your hand You bestow so many blessings upon us. It is hard to even count all the many things that You have done for me. Many of the wicked people out there may appear to be well off on the outside, but they are only in bondage on the inside. They have no salvation when it comes to their own doing, but only destruction. Even what they thought they had will be given to the righteous in blessings. Surely, what is in store for us in heaven I cannot even comprehend. All I know, Lord, is that You are preparing a place for me, and others that believe in You, and there will be mansions there. What that will be like, I do not know. What I will experience when I am in heaven, I do not comprehend. All I know is that there will be no more sickness, death, depression or heartache, for You will wipe away all the tears from our eyes. What an amazing time it will be to be with my God for all eternity in paradise. I cannot wait for the time that I can see You in person and run into Your arms. There, I will give You the biggest hug I’ve given someone, for I love You more anything this world can offer me. You are my greatest joy. Lord, be with me all my days, that I may be able to be called home when I die. I hope to make this a reality someday of being with You in heaven. At the same time, I am saddened to think of all the people that are being defiant to You. All the people that are not listening to what You have called them to do. People that are living their own lives, instead of working in Your kingdom. These people have much to fear when they die, for Your judgment is already upon them. I do not wish to see people cast into the lake of fire, but that they would repent and come to You. Open the eyes of the blind and the hard-hearted. I wish to reach them for Your kingdom. I love You, Lord. Amen.

1 Chronicles 20

¹1 Chronicles 20 (KJV)
1 And it came to pass, that after the year was expired, at the time that kings go out to battle, Joab led forth the power of the army, and wasted the country of the children of Ammon, and came and besieged Rabbah. But David tarried at Jerusalem. And Joab smote Rabbah, and destroyed it.
2 And David took the crown of their king from off his head, and found it to weigh a talent of gold, and there were precious stones in it; and it was set upon David’s head: and he brought also exceeding much spoil out of the city.
3 And he brought out the people that were in it, and cut them with saws, and with harrows of iron, and with axes. Even so dealt David with all the cities of the children of Ammon. And David and all the people returned to Jerusalem.
4 And it came to pass after this, that there arose war at Gezer with the Philistines; at which time Sibbechai the Hushathite slew Sippai, that was of the children of the giant: and they were subdued.
5 And there was war again with the Philistines; and Elhanan the son of Jair slew Lahmi the brother of Goliath the Gittite, whose spear staff was like a weaver’s beam.
6 And yet again there was war at Gath, where was a man of great stature, whose fingers and toes were four and twenty, six on each hand, and six on each foot and he also was the son of the giant.
7 But when he defied Israel, Jonathan the son of Shimea David’s brother slew him.
8 These were born unto the giant in Gath; and they fell by the hand of David, and by the hand of his servants.

Matthew 25

²Matthew 25 (KJV)
1 Then shall the kingdom of heaven be likened unto ten virgins, which took their lamps, and went forth to meet the bridegroom.
2 And five of them were wise, and five were foolish.
3 They that were foolish took their lamps, and took no oil with them:
4 But the wise took oil in their vessels with their lamps.
5 While the bridegroom tarried, they all slumbered and slept.
6 And at midnight there was a cry made, Behold, the bridegroom cometh; go ye out to meet him.
7 Then all those virgins arose, and trimmed their lamps.
8 And the foolish said unto the wise, Give us of your oil; for our lamps are gone out.
9 But the wise answered, saying, Not so; lest there be not enough for us and you: but go ye rather to them that sell, and buy for yourselves.
10 And while they went to buy, the bridegroom came; and they that were ready went in with him to the marriage: and the door was shut.
11 Afterward came also the other virgins, saying, Lord, Lord, open to us.
12 But he answered and said, Verily I say unto you, I know you not.
13 Watch therefore, for ye know neither the day nor the hour wherein the Son of man cometh.
14 For the kingdom of heaven is as a man travelling into a far country, who called his own servants, and delivered unto them his goods.
15 And unto one he gave five talents, to another two, and to another one; to every man according to his several ability; and straightway took his journey.
16 Then he that had received the five talents went and traded with the same, and made them other five talents.
17 And likewise he that had received two, he also gained other two.
18 But he that had received one went and digged in the earth, and hid his lord’s money.
19 After a long time the lord of those servants cometh, and reckoneth with them.
20 And so he that had received five talents came and brought other five talents, saying, Lord, thou deliveredst unto me five talents: behold, I have gained beside them five talents more.
21 His lord said unto him, Well done, thou good and faithful servant: thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord.
22 He also that had received two talents came and said, Lord, thou deliveredst unto me two talents: behold, I have gained two other talents beside them.
23 His lord said unto him, Well done, good and faithful servant; thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord.
24 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.
29 For unto every one that hath shall be given, and he shall have abundance: but from him that hath not shall be taken away even that which he hath.
30 And cast ye the unprofitable servant into outer darkness: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.
31 When the Son of man shall come in his glory, and all the holy angels with him, then shall he sit upon the throne of his glory:
32 And before him shall be gathered all nations: and he shall separate them one from another, as a shepherd divideth his sheep from the goats:
33 And he shall set the sheep on his right hand, but the goats on the left.
34 Then shall the King say unto them on his right hand, Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world:
35 For I was an hungred, and ye gave me meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me drink: I was a stranger, and ye took me in:
36 Naked, and ye clothed me: I was sick, and ye visited me: I was in prison, and ye came unto me.
37 Then shall the righteous answer him, saying, Lord, when saw we thee an hungred, and fed thee? or thirsty, and gave thee drink?
38 When saw we thee a stranger, and took thee in? or naked, and clothed thee?
39 Or when saw we thee sick, or in prison, and came unto thee?
40 And the King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me.
41 Then shall he say also unto them on the left hand, Depart from me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels:
42 For I was an hungred, and ye gave me no meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me no drink:
43 I was a stranger, and ye took me not in: naked, and ye clothed me not: sick, and in prison, and ye visited me not.
44 Then shall they also answer him, saying, Lord, when saw we thee an hungred, or athirst, or a stranger, or naked, or sick, or in prison, and did not minister unto thee?
45 Then shall he answer them, saying, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye did it not to one of the least of these, ye did it not to me.
46 And these shall go away into everlasting punishment: but the righteous into life eternal.