You might recall in Matthew 25:14-30 the parable of the talents. Basically, Jesus compared the kingdom of heaven to the traveling man who gave talents to his servants (my understanding a talent in today’s time is approximately $1000 in USD). The man gave the first man 5 talents, to the second he gave 2, and to the third he gave 1. None got the same because their abilities were different. Then he left. So the first and the second servants invested the talents and doubled the investment! The servant that received one talent went and buried it out of the fear of his master whom he felt was a hard man. So the man returned from his travel to check on the accounts. The first and second servants showed their master their return and their master praised them for their good work and told both of them, since they were faithful with some, they would rule over many things and they all rejoiced. So the master went to the third servant to see what he produced with the talent. The servant told his master of his fear, acknowledging his understanding of how the man profited off talents in the past, and then told him he’d buried it instead. He returned the dug up piece to his master who rebuked him and demanded the 1 talent be given to the man with 10. The servant who was foolish was cast away.
- Matthew 25:29 says, “For to everyone who has, more will be given, and he will have abundance; but from him who does not have, even what he has will be taken.”
Think for a moment about what our master, God, has given us as far as talents. For example, have you been given the gift of teaching? What about servitude? There are many gifts and some people indeed have been given more than others; this doesn’t make our assignment any less important though.
Do you see yourself like the first two servants who took the talents and invested them? Have you invested the talent God has given you to use for His glory? Or, are you more like the servant who, out of fear of risk buried his talent and decided to not use your talents in this world for God’s purpose? How will you answer when our master returns and asks what we’ve done with what He’s given us?
- “Thus also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead. But someone will say, ‘You have faith, and I have works.’ Show me your faith without your works, and I will show you my faith by my works. You believe that there is one God. You do well. Even the demons believe—and tremble! But do you want to know, O foolish man, that faith without works is dead?” (James 2:17-20)
Please visit my related blogs:
One Life to Live: Making the Most of Your Life
Fruits of the Spirit in Our Lives
Where are Your Seeds Being Sown
Scripture references are quoted from the NKJV.