Am I Burying my Talent?

Recently I have been considering the portion in Matthew 25 where the Lord gives out talents, and then goes away. The one with the smallest talent hides his until the Lord returns because, as he says, "Lord, I knew you to be a hard man...and I was afraid, and went and hid your talent in the ground." He didn't lose the gift...but neither did he use it.  The response of the Lord was, "You wicked and lazy servant..."
The picture I see here is that the Lord was very unhappy with the one who refused to use his gift.
What is it that causes us to refuse? I was considering that and many things came to my mind. Of course the Lord names it '"wickedness" and "laziness."   Do I really see that it is wickedness to disobey Him? to be lazy?  I don't think I do.  Many times there is something (like blogging) on my heart, that I do believe the Lord has put there and I procrastinate.  "It's too hard...no one will read it anyway...the words will sound silly...it doesn't matter if I do it or not...I don't 'feel' like it right now.
My technological knowledge is going to get in the way again.  I can be very creative when making excuses...but deep within there is such a longing to hear "Well done" when the Lord returns for me.
In this parable He makes it very clear that He is not happy with disobedience and laziness.

Another picture I have been musing over is King David. The Lord says that.. "He is a man after My own heart".  What was it that David did??  Well--one thing I do see is that he truly repented when he sinned--no excuses.  Another thing I noticed is that he defeated enemies in the good land! While he was reigning God's people were encouraged to overcome the enemies--and David took the lead at the very beginning--in defeating Goliath.
Some Christians (and many hymns) speak of the good land as 'heaven'--but how can heaven be full of enemies?!  No! The good land cannot portray such a place.

Could it not be that the good land is a picture of walking by the Spirit; and in so doing "putting to death the things of the flesh?!"  I believe that it is--and that God is calling each believer to "put off the things of the old nature"---and "put on the new Man"---and go into this good land which flows with milk and honey.   There is a supply in the Spirit of God, but we must be willing to take it by obeying His voice...and by standing against that lazy old nature with all of its excuses. Even as I write this, a prayer rises up within, "Lord, work in my heart that I would be willing!"

God loves us as His children--absolutely no doubt, BUT---He expects us to obey what He speaks into our heart, even though He will not force this. When we refuse, it is we who miss the opportunities of being used by the most high God! It is we who will then not grow up into the fullness of the measure of the stature of Christ.  And we will remain childish--even babyish.
There is no earthly parent who delights in a child like this--why would our heavenly Father? He is sending His Son for a Bride--not a small child.

In these uncertain times; with all the violence on the earth,  a thought came to my mind, "What would Mrs Noah write? What would she be talking to her loved ones, her neighbours about-- when the ark was almost finished; and animals were starting to turn up in pairs?!"

"Dear Lord; in these days, we beg You to sober us up, that we could be usable to You."