[RnMomof7]

It's not about refusing to accept it. It is about refusing to utilize it wisely and the purpose for which it was meant.

I have a closet full of clothing that was given me as a gift that i hate and never wear. That does not mean it was not a gift or that I could have refused it when my in-law kids gave it to me :)

You are mistaken. The parables in this section of Matthew ALL deal with salvation: The Wise and Foolish Virgins, the Talents, and the Sheep and Goats parables ALL deal with Salvation. And NOTE...There is no second-place prizes given out. The person judged unworthy is CAST OUT. This fits perfectly with Paul continuing to run the race for fear of being DISQUALIFIED (not being downgraded to a smaller room in heaven!) In each case, note the ends of the parables :

The parable never says that the man was ever saved does it ? God gives gifts to the elect and the reprobate .

[jo kus]

I have a closet full of clothing that was given me as a gift that i hate and never wear. That does not mean it was not a gift or that I could have refused it when my in-law kids gave it to me :)

Of course they were gifts. And they were given to you to wear them (yuck!). Certainly, the gift-givers wouldn't appreciate that you aren't using the gifts they gave you. Now, imagine God. Of course, He gives gifts that are helpful, always matches whatever you have in the closet, useful in any weather (well, you get the picture, the analogy is running out of gas). God gives us gifts for OUR own good, not what is convenient for HIM (like when our in-law buys us something THEY like). He loves us and DEEPLY DESIRES our company in heaven. The gift is for OURSELVES AND OTHERS! We come to God through other people using THEIR gifts. But if we refuse to use what God has given us, then we are in the same position as the servant who was given one talent. It will be taken away. In other words, God will no longer give us graces, but they will be given to others who will use them. And, as we both agree, without God's graces, we cannot enter the Kingdom.

The parable never says that the man was ever saved does it ? God gives gifts to the elect and the reprobate .

"The Kingdom of Heaven is like..." starts all three parables in Matthew 25. Seems pretty clear that the parables are dealing with people equally - it is what they do during their lives that determines whether they will be cast out or not.

Regards