Responsibility — it’s a heavy word, isn’t it? It makes you feel guilty just to hear it, but if you hold up your end of a deal, you can square your shoulders and look the world in the eye. The word makes me think of three friends — Lonna, Mark and Nina.

         This story is taken partly from Matthew 25 and Luke 10 and is based on the people in my mind. To one, He gave five talents; to another, two; and to another, one. Each according to his own ability.

Lonna

         Lonna was just a pretty little girl, with knobby knees, skipping rope like everyone else when one day the dance instructor came to town. It was a summertime special. The local mothers enrolled their daughters for posture lessons and a chance to get together and visit for an hour in the afternoon. It wasn’t much and didn’t amount to much to anyone. Not much to anyone, but Lonna. From the first point of her toe, she felt like marble in the sculptor’s hand. She could feel the spirit inside of her waiting to get out, to have the unnecessary stone shaved away and the masterpiece revealed.

         Lonna practiced from the end of one lesson to the next; and when the five-week session finished, it was clear to her teacher, and her parents, that this bud must be allowed to flower. This could be a long story, but actually it has only one scene — Lonna practicing and practicing, unfolding her talent until the day she stepped forth as a professional ballet dancer. She had world acclaim, fame and fortune, but to Lonna, all that mattered was the dancing.

         At the end of each performance, she willed herself to practice and study, discipline her body and her movements, so she could better her next effort. Many years later a little girl looked up at her and with wondering eyes and asked her how she had accomplished so much.

         “Faith” Lonna said. “Faith to bring to fruition the gift that is given you.”

         Her five-week dancing course had doubled, tripled and flowered. Lonna fulfilled her responsibility and lived in the “Joy of the Lord.”

Mark

         Then there is my friend Mark. Like Lonna, he was just a friendly, happy little fellow. Sure, he loved to mark with Crayolas, and it seemed to his doting mother that his color choices were unusually attractive. It seemed that his little drawings had some pleasing lines, but he was just a little boy, growing up, playing baseball and learning to get along in this world.

         In high school, he discovered art classes and decided to make his living at it. Mark went to college, received a degree in graphic arts and soon had a job with a top advertising agency. Mark was successful. He had money in the bank, a beautiful apartment, a fast car and fancy friends. But he wasn’t happy. It seemed his effort was empty, and the work had no substance.

         Finally, after a disagreement with his boss, Mark walked out. Soon his savings was gone, and he had to move. He lost his car, but Mark would laugh and say, years later, it was the best thing that ever happened to him.

         He had to take the bus, and on the bus, he met a friendly looking guy who told him about his work — a graphic arts business that made religious tracts. Yes, they had an opening and needed someone to illustrate the covers and do some work inside. Sure, come along, bring your portfolio. Mark got the job. Didn’t pay much, but enough. He felt like his two stabs at art training had paid off double.

         Years later a little girl asked him why he gave up such a good job for one that paid so much less. “Respect, “ Mark said. “You have to have respect for the work you do and the One who gave you your ability. I am paid many times over when I hear of a changed life because of one our tracts. Who knows, maybe someday I’ll be a ruler over many things. For right now I’m living in the ‘Joy of the Lord.’”

Nina

         Then there is Nina. From the day she was born, Nina was special. When she was three, her daddy said she had one talent — just being Nina. Her smile seemed to light corners, and you couldn’t help but smile back when it fell on you.

         Nina wasn’t much past Kindergarten when the church visiting team requested that she accompany them on nursing home visits. “Let’s take her along. She makes the old folks feel young,” the leader said. She wasn’t in Junior High when the choir director asked to have her join them. “I know she hasn’t much volume, but even if she can’t carry a tune, it won’t hurt. That smile brings us together.”

         It was like that everywhere and all the time. When Nina was there, you could feel the light and love drawing and pulling, to each other and to the Lord. Then when Nina was 16 a terrible thing happened — she looked in the mirror and a saw that she was beautiful. From that moment on, she took painstaking care of her appearance. Her makeup had to be the right shade, her hair styled, her clothes in the latest fashion.

         But as Nina’s appearance improved, people seemed to pay less attention. The visiting committee didn’t tell her when they were scheduled at the nursing home. The choir director forgot to tell her about practice. Folks didn’t notice when she joined their group. It wasn’t intentional; it just seemed to happen. Nina got a little mad over it and she decided she would make them notice, so she studied her glamor magazines and paid more attention to her makeup and clothes.

         Finally, she was all alone and very bitter. She said in her heart, “God is unfair, He expects me to do His work and then He turns His back on me. He expects me to do what I cannot do.” Then the Lord came to her in a dream. It wasn’t as my loving friend Jesus, but rather in the role of an inflexible judge. He was a hard and austere man, demanding interest on the gift that had been freely given.

         “You have wasted the talent,” He thundered. “You have hidden the greatest gift of all. I gave you the gift of the Holy Spirit. All you had to do was open up and allow Him to do His work. You have hidden my gift under makeup and vanity and conceit.”

         Friends, this story could end any number or ways — three come to mind:

         • It could be a happy ending. The next morning Nina wakes up, sees the error of her ways and goes to her prayer closet and her Bible. She allows the Holy Spirit to again take control of her life.

         • Then there is the chance that it is too late. While she slept, a deadly fever steals through her body and she must watch the world from an invalid’s chair until an early death takes her away.

         • But there is an even sadder ending. Nina had buried the gift of the Holy Spirit, the most important gift of all, too deeply. The Holy Spirit was quenched. He could not work. She lived her life a bitter, disillusioned woman. Unknown and unloved.

         Those are our choices, friends. We, born again people, have a gift, it’s the Holy Spirit, the most important one of all. As His children, we have the gift of the Holy Spirit living in our lives. We can allow Him to live and accomplish His work through us and we will hear Him say, in the fullness of time, “Well done, good and faithful servant; you have been faithful over a few things I will make you ruler over many things.” Jesus said that twice in Matthew 25. He promised that we can enter into the “Joy of the Lord.”

         Business is an honorable word. Everyone must have a business, occupation, job or responsibility. That is what the word means. See, it is an honorable word.

         Sometimes people forget that their “business” is a way for them to put their talents to the best use while taking care of the material needs of their family. They make “business” top priority.

         I guess you wonder what I mean? Remember Adam? His business was taking care of the animals and of the Garden. It was a good job. Everything grew just right. The animals were his friends and worked with him to keep everything in order.

         Adam had a partner. Adam and his partner would meet at a specific time to discuss how things were growing and what changes needed to be made. Adam’s business partner was God and the Garden of Eden was a great success until Adam forgot his priorities.

         Now let me tell you about another businessman.

         In Nazareth there was a carpenter shop. It was a family affair. Joseph & Sons was a respected business that put out good work on a timely basis. Mr. Joseph had several sons, so it looked like the business would continue to prosper. Then Mr. Joseph died and his boys were left to run the shop.

         The oldest, Jesus, was a natural, and, just like Adam, His partner was God. Things were really humming. Business was good. Joseph & Sons was probably taking orders from all over Galilee. Jesus knew the best wood. He could talk to anyone. When He was in the shop, the tools seemed to plane the wood to a satin smoothness with no effort from the Joseph brothers, or perhaps the effort was so much fun it didn’t seem like work.

         Jesus spent as much time as He could teaching His brothers everything Joseph had taught Him. James would argue and say, “But Jesus, you can talk to those people better than me. You could sell those housewives a new chair every day. The farmers like to come in and talk to you about the crops. You could easily sell them more plows if you tried.”

         Jesus would laugh and say, “But my Father taught me to work with them and give them the best product for their needs. I can’t take advantage of their trust. Joseph wouldn’t want us to do that.” Sometimes the brothers would grumble and someone would mutter under his breath “Well, that’s just business.”

         Then one evening Jesus laid down His tools and looked toward the red sky. He smiled at His brothers, hugged each one and said, “Tomorrow I am going to hear our cousin, John preach. I won’t be back for quite a while.”

         “Is he going to baptize you?” joked a little brother. The answer was “yes.”

         Jesus did not return to the carpenter shop. He had taught His brothers everything they needed to know, and they would have to continue until His return.

         For 40 days and nights, He attended a learning convention with his Business Partner. I guess they spent the time discussing The Plan. But maybe (I think so) Jesus always knew He had a different destiny than His brothers. If not, I am sure His Senior Partner, God, made it clear to Him what was coming.

         A rival had been spying on the “God & Son” partnership. As soon as he thought he could sneak in, Lucifer started making offers. “Quit that firm, there isn’t anything for you there. It’s all sacrifice and no fun. Forget the straight and narrow. Whoever heard of doing business that way?”

         Jesus called fun “joy,” and He has told me that working in partnership with our Father brings satisfaction other firms can’t touch. He has laughed and said that the ones who choose any path other than the straight and narrow usually have a wreck or never reach the goal.

         See what I mean? The right business, with the right partner is full of success, any other way is failure — money or not!

         Friends, do you want a pattern for success? Look at that young man, Jesus. His voice, His manner and His magnetism called forth the best of His companions. The secret is to choose a worthwhile goal and then pursue it with all sincerity and faith.

         Jesus’ family came to hear Him preach and take Him back home, but He said to them, “Why is it that you sought Me? Did you not know that I must be about my Father’s business?” (Luke 2:49). The God Partnership, just like any good business arrangement, calls for responsibility and diligence.

         Jesus told a story of a man who left his house (business) for a long trip. He told his partners to keep things in order until his return. I think that means keep on working; keep on showing a profit.

         Jesus gave us a contract. “Heaven and earth will pass away, but My words will by not pass away” (Luke 21:33).

         What will He pay? “And I bestow upon you a kingdom, just as My Father bestowed one upon me… that you may eat and drink at My table in My kingdom, and sit on thrones judging the twelve tribes of Israel” (Luke 22:29-30).