Spiritual Traders

"And it came to pass, that when he was returned, having received the kingdom, then he commanded these servants to be called unto him, to whom he had given the money, that he might know how much every man had gained by trading." (Luke 19: 15)

"And unto one he gave five talents, to another two, and to another one; to every man according to his several ability; and straightway took his journey. Then he that had received the five talents went and traded with the same, and made them (gained) other five talents. And likewise he that had received two, he also gained other two." (Matthew 25: 15-17)

In addition to common gifts and qualities of being, every man comes into this world with his own personal qualities, gifts, and attributes; metaphorically speaking, his "talents."

How we use the gifts God gives to us, whether natural, as we have as mere men, or spiritual, as we have as spiritual men, as Christians, is illustrated under the symbolism of buying and selling, under the figure of trading in spiritual matters.

"Again, the kingdom of heaven is like unto treasure hid in a field; the which when a man hath found, he hideth, and for joy thereof goeth and selleth all that he hath, and buyeth that field.

Again, the kingdom of heaven is like unto a merchant man, seeking goodly pearls: Who, when he had found one pearl of great price, went and sold all that he had, and bought it. " (Matthew 13: 44-46)

"And the foolish said unto the wise, Give us of your oil; for our lamps are gone out. But the wise answered, saying, Not so; lest there be not enough for us and you: but go ye rather to them that sell, and buy for yourselves. And while they went to buy, the bridegroom came; and they that were ready went in with him to the marriage: and the door was shut." (Matthew 25: 8-10)

We don't have unlimited time to make a decision about buying this pearl or the field with treasure in it.

Like any good deals, one must generally not hesitate to "jump on them" when they arise. "He who hesitates is lost" is an old adage." "A person who spends too much time deliberating about what to do loses the chance to act altogether." This is particularly true with buying things at auction, where a decision must be made immediately.

"Buy the truth, and sell it not; also (buy) wisdom, and instruction, and understanding. " (Proverbs 23: 23)

"Ho, every one that thirsteth, come ye to the waters, and he that hath no money; come ye, buy, and eat; yea, come, buy wine and milk without money and without price. Wherefore do ye spend money for that which is not bread? and your labour for that which satisfieth not? hearken diligently unto me, and eat ye that which is good, and let your soul delight itself in fatness." (Isaiah 55: 1-3)

"Because thou sayest, I am rich, and increased with goods, and have need of nothing; and knowest not that thou art wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked: I counsel thee to buy of me gold tried in the fire, that thou mayest be rich; and white raiment, that thou mayest be clothed, and that the shame of thy nakedness do not appear; and anoint thine eyes with eyesalve, that thou mayest see." (Revelation 3: 17, 18)

These are additional verses that use the analogy of buying and selling, of trading and doing business, with what takes place in the spiritual realm in the dealings Lord God has with men in general and with his own people in particular, and in the dealings that the Lord's people have with each other.

People speak metaphorically of "trading information." People also pay for education, not with money alone, but also with time and energy. Sadly, they are, as the prophet warned, often "spending" time, money, and energy "on that which satisfies not" and which does not spiritually profit the soul. Lost sinners do not see any "profit" in serving the Lord. They rather reason in this fashion:

"Therefore they say unto God, Depart from us; for we desire not the knowledge of thy ways. What is the Almighty, that we should serve him? and what profit should we have, if we pray unto him?" (Job 21: 14)

"Which goeth in company with the workers of iniquity, and walketh with wicked men. For he hath said, It profiteth a man nothing that he should delight himself with God." (Job 34: 8, 9)

"What profit shall I have, if I be cleansed from my sin?" (Job 35: 3)

"Ye have said, It is vain to serve God: and what profit is it that we have kept his ordinance, and that we have walked mournfully before the LORD of hosts?" (Malachi 3: 14)

The wicked sinner who refuses to delight himself in the Lord and serve him has "figured" wrongly! He has not spiritually "added up" things correctly! He does not place the proper value on things, always getting "raw deals" spiritually speaking.

"Riches profit not in the day of wrath: but righteousness delivereth from death." (Proverbs 11: 4)

"What profit hath a man of all his labour which he taketh under the sun?" (Ecclesiastes 1: 3)

"And this also is a sore evil, that in all points as he came, so shall he go: and what profit hath he that hath laboured for the wind?" (Ecclesiastes 5: 16)

This is similar to the question Jesus raised when he asked - "For what is a man profited, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul?" (Matthew 16: 26) What profit is there to the greatest and richest man on earth, if when he dies, he leaves all that and goes to the place of eternal loss and ruin? Would that not truly be "going from riches to rags"?

"Wisdom is good with an inheritance: and by it there is profit to them that see the sun. For wisdom is a defence, and money is a defence: but the excellency of knowledge is, that wisdom giveth life to them that have it." (Ecclesiastes 7: 11, 12)

"For bodily exercise profiteth little: but godliness is profitable unto all things, having promise of the life that now is, and of that which is to come." (I Timothy 4: 8)

Those who love and serve Lord God and his Son, Jesus Christ, are they who are blessed and profited, not only in this world, in their lives on earth, but also will be supremely blessed and profited in the ages to come. Those who reject him and his word are they who "trust in lying words, that cannot profit" (Jeremiah 7: 8), rather than trusting in the saving gospel of the Lord. Some trust in their good deeds, but good deeds without divine love and faith in the heart, produce no lasting profit.

"And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, and have not charity (God's love), it profiteth me nothing." (I Corinthians 13: 3)

"For unto us was the gospel preached, as well as unto them: but the word preached did not profit them, not being mixed with faith in them that heard it." (Hebrews 4: 2)

"What doth it profit, my brethren, though a man say he hath faith, and have not works? can faith save him?" (James 2: 14)

Friend, what about you? What are you buying and selling, spiritually speaking? Are you selling truth and buying error? Then come to the Lord, for his promise is given in these words:

"Thus saith the LORD, thy Redeemer, the Holy One of Israel; I am the LORD thy God which teacheth thee to profit, which leadeth thee by the way that thou shouldest go." (Isaiah 48: 17)