Orthodox view of "failure."

[TheLostCoin]

So, I'm sure we heard - if you were in the OCA jurisdiction or the Antiochian jurisdiction, very recently - this parable.
Matthew 25:14-30
That is, the parable of the three servants with the three talents, where Christ says that whoever has been given more ought to do more with it.

I'm currently a Senior at my University, who has been going to the path of Law School for a while - however, it's rather difficult in terms of facing some courses which demand a lot of attention, as well as beginning the process of Law School (getting recommendations, studying for the LSAT [which is really annoying], personal statement, etc.).

I'm unfortunately at a stressful situation, where if one thing goes wrong, it may screw up everything for now and - if not setting me back for a year or two, may destroy my chances at Law School (i.e., one of my courses is really difficult and may set back my already setback GPA significantly, which needs to be high for Law School [I pretty much need to get at least a 3.7 GPA this Semester due to me failing a course earlier, primarily because said course had a stupid policy of "if you get a C on an exam, you fail the course."], and the LSAT is a mother to study for on top of this coursework).

And from there, I haven't sufficiently planned out my life of what I want to do with it.

Thus, if things don't go according to plan, I will have failed in my goals, and failed to utilize the blessings which I have been given.

I don't think life doesn't have failure, but considering that I've been giving a lot of blessings in terms of my education, my family, my religious upbringing, I feel like I put a lot of stress on myself not to fail, because I would feel guilty, depressed, miserable, and ashamed if I do fail.

But what does the Church say about situations like this, or situations where a person has been given a lot of blessings, they use those blessings to try to reach a goal, they miss and they fail to utilize those blessings? Are we to be cast out into eternal darkness for failing?
If we end up in a state of death from our failure, how does one get out of it? After all, according to the Parable, didn't we lose money on the investment in the long run? How do we apologize for such a sin?

Thanks.

 

[timewerx]

The parable has nothing to do with money.

It only deals with the Truth. He or She that only possesses little Truth even that little He or She possesses will be taken away - it is the people who has little truth are easily deceived, that is why.

Invest in the Truth, not to establish the illusion of permanence in this temporal world. Money is only a tool at best, not to be used as a measure nor standard.

If you have money, better invest it in seeking the Truth instead of buying a comfortable life for yourself in this temporal world (most people do the latter and stands to lose everything they have at the end of this life, having not found the Truth)

Success sometimes come wrapped in failures.

 

[Petros2015]

But what does the Church say about situations like this, or situations where a person has been given a lot of blessings, they use those blessings to try to reach a goal, they miss and they fail to utilize those blessings? Are we to be cast out into eternal darkness for failing?

For failing to get into law school??? I don't think it works like that.

 

[ArmyMatt]

success is God's business, we are called to be faithful to what He has given us.

 

[Tigger45]

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[TheLostCoin]

Yeah I don't know...I just fear that I won't be able to use the resources God has given me in an efficient manner to the greater glory of the Church. Considering that I was given a college education, a private school upbringing, a religious, conservative family, and although I had to deal with depression in 8th grade, it's not like I'm unfortunate to have been brought up in an abusive family, low standards of education, etc.

I don't want to end up in a situation where I need to beg people for stuff, when I could've used those resources in a better way.

I don't know...I'm just wondering if, IF you end up in that situation, how can you seek True Repentance from Christ, given that you won't have what you had before, especially if it could be your fault, whether you realize it or not, or wish to realize it or not.

After all, if the Master gives you 5 talents, and you waste 4 of them, but you double the 1 you have, wouldn't the Master still throw you in prison for wasting His money? How can we be saved at that point?

 

[ArmyMatt]

Yeah I don't know...I just fear that I won't be able to use the resources God has given me in an efficient manner to the greater glory of the Church. Considering that I was given a college education, a private school upbringing, a religious, conservative family, and although I had to deal with depression in 8th grade, it's not like I'm unfortunate to have been brought up in an abusive family, low standards of education, etc.

I don't want to end up in a situation where I need to beg people for stuff, when I could've used those resources in a better way.

I don't know...I'm just wondering if, IF you end up in that situation, how can you seek True Repentance from Christ, given that you won't have what you had before, especially if it could be your fault, whether you realize it or not, or wish to realize it or not.

After all, if the Master gives you 5 talents, and you waste 4 of them, but you double the 1 you have, wouldn't the Master still throw you in prison for wasting His money? How can we be saved at that point?

no the Master would rejoice you doubled the one. it might come with a stern rebuke for wasting the 4, but God would still be overjoyed that you doubled the 1

 

[icxn]

Yeah I don't know...I just fear that I won't be able to use the resources God has given me in an efficient manner to the greater glory of the Church. Considering that I was given a college education, a private school upbringing, a religious, conservative family, and although I had to deal with depression in 8th grade, it's not like I'm unfortunate to have been brought up in an abusive family, low standards of education, etc.

I don't want to end up in a situation where I need to beg people for stuff, when I could've used those resources in a better way.

I don't know...I'm just wondering if, IF you end up in that situation, how can you seek True Repentance from Christ, given that you won't have what you had before, especially if it could be your fault, whether you realize it or not, or wish to realize it or not.

After all, if the Master gives you 5 talents, and you waste 4 of them, but you double the 1 you have, wouldn't the Master still throw you in prison for wasting His money? How can we be saved at that point?

The kind of 'remorse' that causes agitation and desperation is not from God, but from the Devil. It is cloaked in false zeal, but in truth is a wolf seeking to devour all hope from your soul.

You don't need secular education or a high paying job to serve God, He chose poor and uneducated fishermen to spread His Gospel after all.

Do your best to succeed in your current path and if things don't work out you can adjust later. Worrying about a possible failure won't help you.

 

[~Anastasia~]

We thank God for everything that comes our way, accepting it as something He works for good for ourselves and those around us.

If we truly WASTE our efforts/opportunities, then perhaps we deserve a rebuke. If things simply don't go as we planned/hoped - perhaps it's a course correction from God. Or a trial. Either way we thank Him and keep going. If we end up begging - maybe we needed to learn humility.

Either way - don't stress. Trust God, and accept everything that comes as from His hand (even if indirectly - at least He will use it).