Matthew 25:24-25;30

Then he which had received the one talent came and said, Lord, I knew you that you are an hard man, reaping where you have not sown, and gathering where you have not sowed: And I was afraid, and went and hid your talent in the ground. Look, there you have what is yours.'.... And cast the unprofitable servant into the outer darkness. There will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.'

Two words are used for the description of the master - austere - a Greek word used in English, meaning harsh, rigid, rough, as in a gale, a strong wind, as in someone having little mercy..

The other word - hard - skelros in Greek, meaning dry = tough, harsh, stern; someone who would speak roughly, angrily, with little provocation... (Also used in Jude1:15 for "hard speeches" - see below)

We know our God is not like this, yet the master in the story is representing God - so why in both instances does the master reply - 'you knew I was an hard, an austere man'?

Two words are used for "knew" here - ginosko, and eido - which are both fairly widely interpreted - the meaning of awareness being common to each.

So if the verses are rendered - "You were aware..." or "Your perception of me is...." then they can be understood to mean - "If you thought I was that sort of person, why didn't you follow through with actions that equated with how you see me?"

This is the question that makes us wonder what God wants us to understand here.

Perhaps it is to understand the nature of fear, that it will stop people thinking straight. It is a chemical reaction that adrenaline causes us to focus on self preservation alone, "fright leads to flight or fight". As is seen here, fear can dry up our creativity, our ability to successfully think through a situation and resolve it. If you know anything about the rise of stress related diseases, including depression, you will know this is a major problem in our culture.

Unfortunately, our Christianity is much more deeply affected by our culture that we are aware. And one area is that of a fear-driven striving to achieve. Related areas are:

• self condemnation
• envy
• comparisons in performance
• competition for positions of importance
• lack of a servant attitude
• little idea of honouring each other
• putting others down in order to feel better about ourselves

We have to remember that to God, our attitude is more important to him than anything we can do for him. Exodus 4:24 tells how "the LORD met Moses, and wanted to kill him" on his way to deliver the people from Egypt, because Moses had not circumcised his son as the covenant with Abraham required. The widow who gave a few coins impressed Jesus far more, because it was all she had; than did the rich Pharisees giving of their excess.

It wasn't the lack of raw material (talents) that was the real problem in the parable above, because they were all given something, it was the fear based on a wrong perception of the master. So it is crucial for us to let go our fears, which could take some doing, if we were brought up in a guilt-ridden atmosphere, where the lack of love was blamed on our imperfections. And who has ever seen the perfectly good child, that the humanists insist is our natural state? Even if such a creature existed, the mere fact of needing care, and being non-earning is enough for this sick world to withdraw the freely-given love we need to make a us whole person. This is the love that gives us our sense of place from our first moments. It protects, accepts and values us - just because we are!

So many of us suffer from a wrongful fear of God - not the fear of dismaying a loving parent, and of suffering the necessary correction for our growth - but the fear of a hard, impossibly demanding task-master, whose face is full of anger and rejection.

If would be great if parents stopped asking children to "be good", instead asking them to "do good", and helping them in every way possible, rewarding, praising, showing a good example, and correcting them when needed. A good thing to say is: "I am thinking what you will need to help you do the right thing." And first trying a gentle rebuke, then withdrawing privileges, then isolating in their room for a short time, before trying sterner measures that cause actual pain. It leads to trouble when the automatic correction is first and always physical, with no attempt to teach anything. A good aim may be for correction that causes tears for no more than ten minutes, and then to go with kind, understanding words and hugs, and a repeating of the message needing to be learnt.

If this isn't working, it may be time to get some advice and help - prayer, another supporting adult, and medical means if necessary. But whatever happens, let anger be directed at behaviour, and rejection not appear on the face. Love can be tough, but it is always love, always for the good of everyone concerned, the weakest person first.

If you have suffered more that this, seek God to be healed, to be able to forgive and let go those who have first suffered themselves from what they are giving out! Reject the idea that you don't deserve to be loved, that you must try and earn it, that you will not be able to do so. Let go of the resentment and rebellion and fear formed by these ideas, which your heart knows are unjust! And don't let Satan convince you that God is a hard taskmaster, for it is Satan himself who has been treating you like this, and filling you with his deceptions!

It is the devil who demands our worship while he destroys us! It is Satan who will make us feel guilty for breathing! But God has these things in his word: (Romans 8:34; 1 John 3:20; Isaiah 54:17;Romans 8:1-2 )

Who is he who condemns? It is Christ who died, and furthermore is also risen, who is even at the right hand of God, who also makes intercession for us.
For if our heart condemns us, God is greater than our heart, and knows all things.
No weapon that is formed against you shall prosper; and every tongue that shall rise against you in judgment (to pass sentence) you shall condemn (declare wrong). This is the heritage of the servants of the LORD, and their righteousness is of me, says the LORD.
There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit. For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has made me free from the law of sin and death.

So Jesus said.... No one is good but One, that is, God.
"There is none righteous, no, not one;....
...for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,...
For the good that I will to do, I do not do; but the evil I will not to do, that I practice.(Paul)

Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may take hold of mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.
... for it is God who gives the energy to you both to will and to do the good that satisfies him.
But by the grace of God I am what I am: and his grace towards me was not in vain; but I laboured a great deal more than them all: yet not I, but the grace of God which was with me.
And He said to me, "My grace is enough for you, for my strength is accomplished through weakness." Therefore most gladly I will rather boast in my weakness, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.

For he has made him (Jesus) to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.

But God commends His own love to us, in that while we were still doing wrong, Christ died for us. Much more then, having now been justified by His blood, we shall be saved from strong anger through Him. For if when we were enemies we were reconciled to God through the death of His Son, much more, having been reconciled, we shall be saved by His life. And not only that, but we also rejoice in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received our ransom.

So whatever you do, don't join in condemning others, or yourself, or God. (Jude:14-19)

See, the Lord comes with ten thousand of his saints, to carry out justice on all, and to convince all that are wicked among them of all their wicked deeds which they have wickedly committed, and of all their hard speeches which brazen sinners have spoken against him.
These are murmurers, complainers, walking after their own lusts; and their mouths speak great swelling words, admiring people because of the advantages that come from it.

But you, beloved, building up yourselves on your most holy faith..., How? By doing the following:-
- praying in the Holy Ghost, - words inspired by the Spirit given to look after us and our loved ones
- keep yourselves in the love of God..., being always motivated by love...
- looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ to eternal life. - Humbling recognising our inability to justify ourselves, thankful that God has done it through the death of Jesus, to satisfy His law! (Rms 8:3-4)
- And of some have compassion, making a difference: - some are so hurt and sensitive, that judging them will be shattering to them. Build a relationship of trust, through real care, before speaking gently into such a person's life...
- And others save with fear, pulling them out of the fire; hating even the clothing spotted by the flesh. - And some need to be confronted with tough love in fear, who may be on the verge of carelessly going too far from God's ways...

Now to him that is able to keep you from falling, and to present you faultless before the presence of his glory with exceeding joy, to the only wise God our Saviour, be glory and majesty, dominion and power, both now and ever. Amen.

More studies related to this issue are: Church Structure, The Importance of Place, Judgement and Perfection

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