One of the advantages of being retired is the ability to have a leisurely time of prayer and Bible reading each day. One of my practices is to read a commentary on the Bible passage prior to praying.
Here’s how it goes: I read the commentary, then I slowly pray through the scripture and talk to God about what I’ve read.
Usually, the main prayer theme follows me throughout the day and influences my life.
Here’s an example of how this may look for one of Jesus’s parables in Matthew 25.
Three points of interest that the commentary noticed are, first, the idea of a talent. A talent is not just a human ability, but a measure of wealth. In Jesus’s day, a talent was equal to what an individual could earn in a lifetime.
The division of talents indicates that God does not approach people with a one-size-fits-all plan. He gives to people according to their abilities, but He rewards them equally based on how they handle what they have to work with.
The third person in the parable believed he would get no personal benefit and was afraid of risking failure. He did nothing with what the master had given him.
Below is how I approached the scripture passage and prayed about it. I encourage you to try something like this in your prayer time and see how it works for you.
Please remember, just as God has no one-size-fits-all for what He gives us, He also has a similar way of dealing with our prayer. Everyone’s prayers will be different from the other. The main thing is, let’s stay in contact with the Lord.
The Parable of the Talents
“For it is as if a man, going on a journey, summoned his slaves and entrusted his property to them; to one he gave five talents, to another two, to another one, to each according to his ability.
“Then he went away. At once the one who had received the five talents went off and traded with them and made five more talents.
In the same way, the one who had the two talents made two more talents.
But the one who had received the one talent went off and dug a hole in the ground and hid his master’s money.
After a long time the master of those slaves came and settled accounts with them.
Then the one who had received the five talents came forward, bringing five more talents, saying, ‘Master, you handed over to me five talents; see, I have made five more talents.’
His master said to him, ‘Well done, good and trustworthy slave; you have been trustworthy in a few things; I will put you in charge of many things; enter into the joy of your master.’
And the one with the two talents also came forward, saying, ‘Master, you handed over to me two talents; see, I have made two more talents.’
His master said to him, ‘Well done, good and trustworthy slave; you have been trustworthy in a few things; I will put you in charge of many things; enter into the joy of your master'” (Matthew 25.14-23)
Today’s Prayer
Dear Heavenly Father, I recently came across a meaningful definition of righteousness and wickedness. The righteous take what is theirs and use it for others, while the wicked take what belongs to others and use it for themselves.
I pray that today, you will help me use what you’ve given me for the benefit of others and for your glory.
I pray for my family and for the people at the church I attend. May we all be like the two servants who took what You gave to them and used it faithfully in Your service for the good of others and for Your glory.
More of the Parable of the Talents
“Then the one who had received the one talent also came forward, saying, ‘Master, I knew that you were a harsh man, reaping where you did not sow and gathering where you did not scatter,
So I was afraid, and I went and hid your talent in the ground. Here you have what is yours.’
But his master replied, ‘You wicked and lazy slave! You knew, did you, that I reap where I did not sow and gather where I did not scatter?
Then you ought to have invested my money with the bankers, and on my return I would have received what was my own with interest.
So take the talent from him, and give it to the one with the ten talents” (Matthew 25.24-27).
Today’s Prayer
Dear Lord, I am retired, but I am not finished serving you. Please help me take whatever you have given me today and use it for other people.
I also pray for those who believe that you are harsh and that there is no profit in serving you. I pray that you open our eyes to see the great value of giving what you’ve given to us in your service.
May we learn the lesson that you gave when you said, “What does it profit a person to gain the whole world and lose their soul?”
Lord, may we be giving to you, knowing that you can never out give you.
Conclusion to the Parable
“For to all those who have, more will be given, and they will have an abundance, but from those who have nothing, even what they have will be taken away.
As for this worthless slave, throw him into the outer darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth” (Matthew 25.29-30).
Dear Heavenly Father, this last phrase reminds me that in heaven there will be activity and productivity.
We won’t be little puffy angels playing harps, but we will be your servants who partner with you in your activity.
May we be your friends today, knowing that forever we will be your friends.
I pray for those who have no interest in you today. I pray that you will draw them to yourself. This parable is very serious about how we deal with you and I pray that you help us respond in every way to your love.
Try It Out
I hope this example has given you some ideas on how to approach God in prayer. It has been very valuable to me, and if it fits you, praise God.
If not, know that God is a God of great variety, and find a way that God wants you to meet with Him. Above all, let’s all connect with Him each day.
YouTube Discussion
Rudy Ross and I discussed this passage on YouTube today. It is on the Bob Spradling channel.
Real Voices 