Throughout the ages, the deep, innermost desire of mankind has remained unchanged. Man wants to obtain the goals that will create within himself a lasting satisfaction and a sense of fulfillment.

When God first created man, He gave him a task, the fulfilling of which would keep him in a place of continual satisfaction and fellowship with his Creator. The task: Subdue the earth and have dominion over it (Gen. 1:28).

When Adam chose not to fulfill the task which God had given him, he severed the close, intimate relationship with God he had previously enjoyed.

The inherent desire within man, however, continued. He still wanted to achieve and attain an objective. But now there were new objectives, ones not originating from the heart of God. Since those new goals were not governed by God, they became self-centered and self-serving.

There is no lasting satisfaction in accomplishing anything outside of the activities and ideas inspired by God. The only means of accomplishing the desires and goals most important in human life is through re-establishing the relationship which God originally designed.

The person who is diligent in the kingdom of God will see with increasing clarity the goals that God has designed for him. As they become vivid, he must continue to seek God, and to live by His standard, in order to bring those goals into reality.

"But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him" (Heb. 11:6). It is those who are diligent in the Word of God who receive His rewards. But we must realize that diligence is an inward thing. It cannot be measured by outward "busyness."

Luke 10:38-42 makes clear this important distinction:
Now it came to pass, as they went, that he entered into a certain village: and a certain woman named Martha received him into her house. And she had a sister called Mary, which also sat at Jesus' feet, and heard his word. But Martha was cumbered about much serving, and came to him, and said, Lord, dost thou not care that my sister hath left me to serve alone? Bid her therefore that she help me. And Jesus answered and said unto her, Martha, Martha, thou art careful and troubled about many things: But one thing is needful: and Mary hath chosen that good part, which shall not be taken away from her.

Here we find Martha occupied with the business of serving Jesus and His disciples. But her "busyness" had distracted her from the truly important thing-hearing what Jesus was saying. Mary made a choice. She had determined to hear God's Word, even though there was much work to be done.

Who was the diligent one? Obviously it was Mary, because she was diligent to seek out God's Word. And Jesus commended her for it. Martha, on the other hand, allowed the demands of serving to distract her from her hunger to know God more intimately.

Diligence is an inward attitude expressed first in a deep desire for intimate relationship with God. Then it works its way out into the activity of serving others. This kind of inward longing to know God more intimately never stops. The deeper your fellowship, the deeper your longing to know Him.

There are many people who outwardly have all the appearance of diligence, yet who are inwardly starved and stagnant in their relationship with God. Such people have not been diligent with what they have received from God. God does not bless slothfulness, but He rewards diligence.

The Unfaithful Steward
Shortly before Jesus was to be taken away and crucified, He began teaching the disciples about the responsibilities that would be placed upon them after He had ascended to the right hand of God the Father. In the parable of the talents (Matt. 25:14-30), Jesus gave a clear illustration of His attitude toward the diligent and the slothful.

We can all clearly identify the "man" who set out on a far journey, leaving behind certain assets in the hands of his servants. The "man" is God. The servants are the disciples who would be entrusted with the man's goods. God would entrust to these disciples, as He has to you and men, the very life and nature of Himself. That nature of super-energized life that has been deposited in your spirit and mine is the "talent." The decision to entrust different amounts to each servant was determined by the "man," based upon his knowledge of the individual servant.

God gives individual assignments to us based upon His knowledge of us. He never asks anyone to do anything that cannot be realistically accomplished. If you are trying to do something so far-out that it is beyond your capacity in God to complete, you have better re-evaluate you assignment to make certain it is really from God.

Through this teaching, God is revealing to us that He is a creator Who has not stopped creating. He has now called you and me to become co-creators with Him. God expects that creative ability He has implanted within you and me to be invested in order to multiply it. It must not be allowed to lie dormant. It is to be invested into this world by imparting it to the lives of others.

Two of these servants used the talents given them and made a profit for their master. It must be kept in mind that the talents referred to here do not correspond to present-day usage of the term. A talent was not a personality trait or ability, but rather a sum of money.

A talent of silver was worth about $1,000. When the man handed over his property to each of these servants it was not just for safekeeping, but for them to invest in the interest of their master.

This talent specifically represents the abundant life that God has given us - His nature, ability, and supernatural power that reside within us. Yet, at the same time, it must be understood that all that a person has - his time, money, energy, skills - are also entrusted to him to use to further the kingdom of God.

The two faithful servants were diligent to take their master's goods and use them to increase his possessions. Their labors, devotion and faithfulness were equal, and they were each given the same welcome and the exact same reward. They discovered the key to abundant, successful, joyful living: "Invest what you have been given."

When you invest in the lives of other that which God has entrusted and imparted to you, then you find the source of joy. Even what may seem to you to be the smallest share of God's "talent," when faithfully invested, never goes unnoticed by the Master.

God's goal is to further the kingdom. When you apply every resource available to you to accomplish the goal God has set befor you, your diligence will result in reward.

The third servant of this parable was not commended, but rather rebuked as a wicked and slothful servant. He was labeled unproductive. Why? What mistakes did he make? Where did he err?

There was a total misunderstanding in the heart of this servant. He did not serve his master well, because he did not really know him. He did not love him as he should have. He did not have the right concept of him, as evidenced by his explanation for his lack of productivity.

He tried to excuse himself by laying the blame on his master. He insulted the master by accusing him of being hard and of reaping where he had not sown. In reality, through his investment in them, the man had sown generously in each one of these servants. For these statements, the servant was called wicked.

Next, he hid the goods in the ground where the remained, but without increase. The servant was idle and fruitless. Therefore he was called slothful. Ephesians 3:20-21 from the Phillips translation says, "Now to him who by his power within us is able to do infinitely more than we ever dare to ask or imagine-to him be glory in the Church and in Christ Jesus for ever and ever, amen!"

God has super-abundant power, and that power has been made available to every believer. The power of God, the power to accomplish anything, is within you. If it remains dormant and idle, it is fruitless and not producing what God intended. Diligence will stir up that productivity.

Finally, the servant said he was afraid. Afraid to invest. Afraid to take a risk. Afraid he might fail. He would not take a chance with his master's money. He would not take the responsibility of handling his master's goods. For that, he was called unproductive.

God was not afraid to take a risk. He took a risk in sending Jesus to this earth. There was the risk that, even after the price for the sins of humanity was paid, no one would receive the sacrifice by faith. There was a risk that these few men to whom God entrusted the furthering of the kingdom might not fulfill their assignment. God took a risk!

As you invest the ability God has given you into the lives of others, you risk rejection, you risk ridicule, you risk being misunderstood. Your faithful and wise investment will prove to be productive, however, and you will enter into continuous joy.

Dare to live the adventure of this abundant life which has been entrusted to you. In his book entitled "Paths to Power," A.W. Tozer states: "God works as long as His people live daringly: He ceases when they no longer need His aid." Dare to reach out to people.

Source: A Guide to Successfully Attaining Your God-Given Goals
by Dennis Burke
Excerpt permission granted by Dennis Burke Ministries