“‘Take the thousand and give it to the one who risked the most. And get rid of this “play-it-safe” who won’t go out on a limb. Throw him out into utter darkness.’

As I embark upon a new year in the life of Jackie I cannot help but be thankful that God’s mercies have kept me. Entering my forties was a huge deal and as I survive each year thereafter I give amazing thanks to my Creator and Father. I remember before 20 I couldn’t fathom reaching 40 so you understand where I am coming from.

So yes, I just celebrated another year and as usual there is ongoing introspection as to how my life has been thus far and where my continuous dreams are taking me God’s willing. I have questioned Him so much in the past couple weeks as I try to maneuver the path that I believe I should be on. I ask, what do I stop, what do I continue and what would He like me to change. I am at the point where mistakes are acceptable but can also be avoided once I seek His counsel.

So this morning the passage of scripture found in Matthew 25:14- 30 (read it here) came to mind. It’s the parable of the talents or the investment as the message version describes it. I am sure you know it well; where the master distributed money to his servants or workers and asked them to take care of it until he gets back. I want to pay attention to the last worker however who buried his. But before I continue I also feel compelled to share with you a part of a write up that I read on Marshawn Evans Daniels’ (a virtual mentor, love her!) blog that has somewhat confirmed or reaffirmed what I read in Matthew 25 vs. 28-30.

“God calls us to significance not safety and security. God reinvents us to reposition us for greater purpose”. Marshawn Evans Daniels

So in vs. 28-30 it reads ‘Take the thousand and give it to the one who risked the most. And get rid of this “play-it-safe” who won’t go out on a limb. Throw him out into utter darkness.’ I believe that many of us including myself are playing life safe for one reason or the other and oftentimes the reason is ridiculous if I can put it that way without offending anyone. There are many instances that I can easily identify for myself that has pushed me under the covers so to speak, wanting to hide and shut out the world. Not wanting to go the extra mile nor exert the extra effort needed to be more and I will share some of the so called rationality behind this behavior.

• I am afraid of being rejected and having my pride crushed when I put myself out to pasture so to speak – in other words I am afraid of becoming vulnerable.
• Complacency – I have gotten so comfortable with the fact that my husband is the bread winner and so he now takes care of me while I try to build a business (btw – check it out here TheBeyondWoman) but I know I have been gifted to do so much more. And I have the time to do more.
• After years of having to cater to the needs of clients and being in the space of many I now overly cherish my time away to the detriment of me no longer having a social life. Listen we need people whether we believe it or not.
• This leads me to my inability to ask for help and thinking I am super woman and I have all the answers.

Talk about putting it all out there

The point is this, we cannot be who we need to be to those we are called to if we live like the last worker who buried or did nothing with what we are given. There can be no multiplication or growth when we live in fear of what others will think. We stifle our creativity and our drive when we constantly close out the world because of how we perceive the world. We place limits on God and the fact that He wants to give us so much when we do nothing with what He has already blessed us with.

We have been given the gifts that God expects us to use for the benefit of others. All of us have been gifted with something and let me say that quickly before someone raises their hand and shouts “not me”. All of us received gifts that will bring us before Kings (Prov. 18:16). And so we must look within when we are not prospering in the way we ought to, then ask ourselves…am I playing it safe?

Marshawn said it best “God calls us to significance not safety and security. Are we shooting for safety and security or is our focus significance. What is it that you have on your heart today that you know will impact many or even one person in a significant way and you keep saying no…. Can I encourage you to take the risk and believe on the name of Jesus that it will work? Will you trust him to have your back when you let your defenses down and no longer care about the world because ultimately we really do not answer to the world but we answer to God. So who will you listen to today?

Stop playing it safe… allow God to increase what he has entrusted you with initially. Let Him say well done Good & Faithful servant. Let Him say you have been faithful in little, I am now entrusting you with more.

Let go, breathe & commit to becoming more when you stop playing it safe.

Lot’s of love & light!