Matthew 25:14-18 (NIV)
Again, it will be like a man going on a
journey, who called his servants and entrusted his property to them. To one he
gave five talents of money, to another two talents, and to another one talent,
each according to his ability. Then he went on his journey. The man who had received the five talents
went at once and put his money to work and gained five more. So also, the one
with the two talents gained two more. But the man who had received the one
talent went off, dug a hole in the ground and hid his master's money.
The
parable of the Talents is one of some 50 parables (more if you count similes)
that the Lord Jesus Christ taught to His disciples. Like all His parables, this parable not only
applied to His disciples but also applies to all His followers. While it describes the use of money, it also
teaches about our use or stewardship of time, possessions, and all else that
our Lord provides to us.
A
talent was valued at 6,000 denarii, an amount that would take an ordinary
laborer 20 years to earn. Some
commentaries equate a talent to about $1,000, but that depends on the status of
our economic times. In these verses the
“man” entrusted three of his servants with three different amounts of talents. The first two servants with five and two
talents entrusted to them doubled the investment. The third servant with one talent entrusted
to him did nothing.
This
passage teaches that people are given different levels of skills, abilities,
and gifts. Sure, all of us wish that we
would have five talents rather than two or one, but it is not our decision. We must accept what we have been given and do
our best to do all that we can with what we have been given. God expects you to take whatever He has given
to you and make the most of it.
In
my many years of observing life in various modes---academics, business,
athletics, society, and the church---I have often thought of this parable and
how it applies in each of these modes. I
see individuals with superior intellectual capabilities, natural leadership
qualities, skilled athletic prowess, superb personalities and transferable
skills, and great abilities to preach, teach, lead, establish vision(s), and
serve others. These individuals have
been entrusted with the equivalent of the five talents. I also see individuals who have good but not
great gifts, abilities, and skills in these different walks of life. They have the equivalent of two talents. And, then I see individuals who do not have
great or even good natural skills, abilities, and gifts but I do see them doing
the best they can and they are essential to the overall success of a school,
institution, business, team, social environment, and/or church body.
I
have also observed individuals who have been given the equivalent of one, two,
or five talents who have not properly applied these skills, abilities and
gifts. Often we see this with our
children or other family members. Teachers
and coaches and other leaders see superb intellectual, athletic, artistic or
other potential in children, yet get very frustrated when these children do not
take advantage of these endowed talents.
Maybe you see this in yourself as well?
Always keep in mind that God expects you to use His blessings entrusted
to you for the good of others and to glorify Him. If you keep on reading this parable you will
learn that God considers a person “wicked” who does not use what he has been
entrusted with. Inactivity is wickedness
and there are severe consequences to those who do not apply what they have been
given by God. There also are great
blessings to those who do invest time, energy and money using the skills,
abilities, and gifts---not matter how great or how small--God has given to you
to fulfill His purposes in you.
“When I stand before God at the end of my
life, I would hope that I would not have a single bit of talent left, and could
say, ‘I used everything You gave me’” -- Erma Bombeck
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