The Wickedness of Nothingness
The English philosopher and politician Edmund Burke once said, "The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing." This often used quote from the 18th century is still true today. Look at this spiritual parallel in a parable from Jesus found in Matthew 25:14-30, as I borrow, then expand upon a few thoughts from Harold Leytham and Danny Cresswell.
A master left different numbers of talents with three stewards, with expectations for all. The first two multiplied their talents, but the third steward buried his so he could return it to his master. Upon returning, the master was displeased, because he had expectations and they were not fulfilled. The point of the parable: it is wicked to do nothing when something can be done.
The word "wicked" can mean evil, lewd, malicious, or hurtful. Jesus did not use the word often and used it only three times when referring to individuals. Why was this servant wicked? Not because he lied. He was actually honest and admitted to burying the talent. Did he receive it dishonestly? No, it was given to him in good faith. Was he immoral with the talent, like the prodigal son? No. So why was he wicked? Because he did nothing with the talent. Doing nothing when something can be done is wicked, according to Jesus.
There is a high cost in nothingness. If anyone has gifts or talents and they do not use them, there will be a cost, "for it is required in stewards that a man be found faithful." How could it possibly be costly to do nothing? Consider these examples:
Physically, there is a cost in nothingness. If you sit in a wheelchair or stay in bed for six months and never get up and use your legs, it will cost. Your legs will become useless and you will have to learn to walk again. If you place a patch over one eye and stop using the eye, the eye will get weak and have to be exercised for use again. It will cost to do nothing.
Socially, there is a cost in nothingness. If you ever purpose in your heart to lose friends, there are two options. First, be mean and hurtful, curse and slander them and tell them to get lost. That would probably work. Or you could try option number two. Do nothing. Never visit with them, do not return their calls, ignore them, and eventually they will go away. Simply doing nothing can cost greatly. Many have been lost to nothingness.
In your family, there is a great cost in nothingness. If you as a reprobate wanted to corrupt your children so they would turn out rotten, you could teach them to do wrong, steal, give instruction in lying, etc. or you could do nothing. Just let them go and let depravity run its crooked little course. Never teach them standards, convictions or restraints. Let them do anything they want to do and let them watch anything they desire to watch on TV or video and they will move on from Sesame Street to MTV and graduate on to HBO. Just do nothing and they will corrupt in a natural progression of events.
Agriculturally, there is a cost in nothingness. After planting a garden, you could transplant Johnson grass, clover, briars and weeds, in order to choke out the vegetables and lose your crop. Or if you really want to lose your garden, just do nothing. Never fertilize, never irrigate, never cultivate, and I guarantee you will lose the garden. It will cost to do nothing.
For any church, there is a severe cost in nothingness. The pastor could run ads and pass out flyers advertising the closing of his church, followed by members passing along the closing by word of mouth. Or everyone could just do nothing. Don't win souls, don't tithe, don't attend, etc., and eventually the church will close. Just do nothing.
The English philosopher and politician Edmund Burke once said, "The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing." This often used quote from the 18th century is still true today. Look at this spiritual parallel in a parable from Jesus found in Matthew 25:14-30, as I borrow, then expand upon a few thoughts from Harold Leytham and Danny Cresswell.
A master left different numbers of talents with three stewards, with expectations for all. The first two multiplied their talents, but the third steward buried his so he could return it to his master. Upon returning, the master was displeased, because he had expectations and they were not fulfilled. The point of the parable: it is wicked to do nothing when something can be done.
The word "wicked" can mean evil, lewd, malicious, or hurtful. Jesus did not use the word often and used it only three times when referring to individuals. Why was this servant wicked? Not because he lied. He was actually honest and admitted to burying the talent. Did he receive it dishonestly? No, it was given to him in good faith. Was he immoral with the talent, like the prodigal son? No. So why was he wicked? Because he did nothing with the talent. Doing nothing when something can be done is wicked, according to Jesus.
There is a high cost in nothingness. If anyone has gifts or talents and they do not use them, there will be a cost, "for it is required in stewards that a man be found faithful." How could it possibly be costly to do nothing? Consider these examples:
Physically, there is a cost in nothingness. If you sit in a wheelchair or stay in bed for six months and never get up and use your legs, it will cost. Your legs will become useless and you will have to learn to walk again. If you place a patch over one eye and stop using the eye, the eye will get weak and have to be exercised for use again. It will cost to do nothing.
Socially, there is a cost in nothingness. If you ever purpose in your heart to lose friends, there are two options. First, be mean and hurtful, curse and slander them and tell them to get lost. That would probably work. Or you could try option number two. Do nothing. Never visit with them, do not return their calls, ignore them, and eventually they will go away. Simply doing nothing can cost greatly. Many have been lost to nothingness.
In your family, there is a great cost in nothingness. If you as a reprobate wanted to corrupt your children so they would turn out rotten, you could teach them to do wrong, steal, give instruction in lying, etc. or you could do nothing. Just let them go and let depravity run its crooked little course. Never teach them standards, convictions or restraints. Let them do anything they want to do and let them watch anything they desire to watch on TV or video and they will move on from Sesame Street to MTV and graduate on to HBO. Just do nothing and they will corrupt in a natural progression of events.
Agriculturally, there is a cost in nothingness. After planting a garden, you could transplant Johnson grass, clover, briars and weeds, in order to choke out the vegetables and lose your crop. Or if you really want to lose your garden, just do nothing. Never fertilize, never irrigate, never cultivate, and I guarantee you will lose the garden. It will cost to do nothing.
For any church, there is a severe cost in nothingness. The pastor could run ads and pass out flyers advertising the closing of his church, followed by members passing along the closing by word of mouth. Or everyone could just do nothing. Don't win souls, don't tithe, don't attend, etc., and eventually the church will close. Just do nothing.
If you could donate blood to save a life and you did nothing, would you be guilty of a death? If you could call 911 and save a life and you did nothing, would you be guilty? Do you know what you need to do to go to an eternal lake of fire? You could sin like the devil, drink, dope, fornicate, lie, steal, or you could do nothing. Just never repent and accept Jesus as Savior and you will go to an eternal lake of fire of punishment as a member of Adam's fallen race.
Is nothingness wicked? Jesus said it was. Are you doing something or nothing?
by Joseph Harris
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