It is sometimes difficult to comprehend the role that Christ's grace and our efforts play in our Salvation. Clearly, we cannot be saved without grace, but it is equally clear that we will not be saved without exerting every effort on our part. Our good works do not purchase or pay back Christ's forgiveness or indulgence. But also, Christ will not save us in our sins or extend the fullness of His mercy to those who do not fully repent and come unto Him. The Parable of the Talents can help us understand a little better how grace and works operate together. In the Parable, the Lord gives each of His servants a number of talents to take stewardship and responsibility over. The talents belonged to the Lord and any work or effort employed by the servants to multiply the talents they received did not change the fact that the talents and any profit that came from them always was and would continue to remain the Lord's. However, because these servants had proven themselves faithful and wise stewards, the Lord entrusted them with more and made them rulers over many things. However, for the servant who made no effort whatsoever, the gift he had been given, but did not value and merely trampled under foot, was taken from Him. This is how our Savior's grace works. We are given it freely but it is up to each of us to value and utilize and multiply this gift we have been given, or it will have no effect in our lives and will ultimately be taken from us.
