The following is an excerpt from Howard Thurman's The Inward Journey. It is a reflection on the parable of the talents in Matthew 25:14-30. To me, it's an encouragement to those of us who feel like we're laboring without any sort of results, and thus losing heart. It's also a great corrective for us who perhaps trust too much in our ability (or at least try to project the image) to "make things happen." Please excuse his old school non-inclusive language :)
The unfortunate servant was not 'cast off' because he did not realize any profit for the nobleman. No. He was cast off because he did not 'work at it'...
We are never under obligation to achieve results. Of course, results are important and it may be that that is the reason effort is put forth. But results are not mandatory. Much of the energy and effort and many anxious hours are spent over the probable failure or success of our ventures. No man likes to fail. But it is important that under certain circumstances, failure is its own success...
There are many forces over which the individual can exercise no control whatsoever. A man plants a seed in the ground and the seed sprouts and grows. The weather, the winds, the elements, cannot be controlled by the farmer. The result is never a sure thing. So what does the farmer do? He plants. Always he plants. Again and again he works at it--the ultimate confidence and assurance that even though his seed does not grow to fruition, seeds do grow and do come to fruition.
The task of men who work for the Kingdom of God, is to Work for the Kingdom of God. The result beyond this demand is not in their hands. He who keeps his eyes on results cannot give himself wholeheartedly to his task, however simple or complex that task may be.
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