Why do we assume the master in this parable is God?
Master, I knew you to be a hard man, reaping where you did not sow, and gathering where you scattered no seed, 25 so I was afraid, and I went and hid your talent in the ground. Then you ought to have invested my money with the bankers, and at my coming I should have received what was my own with interest. (ESV)
Hi UnderGrace, I think many people in the world as well as Christians misrepresent the goodness of God because they fail to look at or see the Son who is the full representation of God the Father.
There is a lot in this parable about the faithfulness of God and the lack of proper vision of us saved people. Unless we see these Bible stories and verses in light of Jesus we miss the true interpretation. Jesus said "to everyone who HAS" I believe it means faith and developing faith in the goodness of God and His Word. We all have a measure of faith and no matter what the measure is it can move mountains because it's not of us it's a gift we were given.
I believe this and believe it's our calling to walk out what we HAVE been given and we do it in our new man. It's vitally important to KNOW who that "new born again man" is. We have been made that new man IN Christ. And what we have been given is also because of being IN Christ.
To not agree with what God says we ARE and HAVE IN Christ is to walk in unbelief. God has freely given us all we need for life and godliness. God didn't even spare His own Son., The Bible says He has freely given us all other things that are not as vital as having Jesus but those who have Jesus have all they need according to Romans 8:32
[SUP]32 [/SUP]He who did not withhold
or spare [even] His own Son but gave Him up for us all, will He not also with Him freely
and graciously give us all [other] things?
It's not God who takes what we need away., Jesus never killed., stole or destroyed. God our Father is the ONE who GAVE us Jesus and in Him we have been given all we need for today and all the way into eternity. We got saved by grace through faith and now we are called to acquire all other things the same way... by grace through faith. We can ask and know we will receive ... why? Because God says so. Mark 11:24
For this reason I am telling you, whatever you ask for in prayer, believe (trust and be confident) that it is granted to you, and you will [get it].