The Talents

Good morning and welcome to Our Daily Walk.

Audio version at http://tinyurl.com/2wlyj7

Have you ever been around someone who refused to pull his own weight? You know the kind. He’s capable of doing a good job, but for whatever reason simply refuses to measure up to what he can do.

Jesus tells a parable in Matthew 25:14-30. This is the parable of the talents. A talent was a large sum of money and in this parable three servants are entrusted to invest this money for their lord. As you contemplate the reading of this parable, remember that God does not expect of us what we are incapable of doing.

“For the kingdom of heaven is like a man traveling to a far country, who called his own servants and delivered his goods to them. And to one he gave five talents, to another two, and to another one, to each according to his own ability; and immediately he went on a journey. Then he who had received the five talents went and traded with them, and made another five talents. And likewise he who had received two gained two more also. But he who had received one went and dug in the ground, and hid his lord's money. After a long time the lord of those servants came and settled accounts with them.

“So he who had received five talents came and brought five other talents, saying, ‘Lord, you delivered to me five talents; look, I have gained five more talents besides them.’ His lord said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant; you were faithful over a few things, I will make you ruler over many things. Enter into the joy of your lord.’ He also who had received two talents came and said, ‘Lord, you delivered to me two talents; look, I have gained two more talents besides them.’ His lord said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant; you have been faithful over a few things, I will make you ruler over many things. Enter into the joy of your lord.’

“Then he who had received the one talent came and said, ‘Lord, I knew you to be a hard man, reaping where you have not sown, and gathering where you have not scattered seed. And I was afraid, and went and hid your talent in the ground. Look, there you have what is yours.’

“But his lord answered and said to him, ‘You wicked and lazy servant, you knew that I reap where I have not sown, and gather where I have not scattered seed. So you ought to have deposited my money with the bankers, and at my coming I would have received back my own with interest. So take the talent from him, and give it to him who has ten talents.

‘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 away. And cast the unprofitable servant into the outer darkness. There will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.’

All three men were capable of doing what their lord requested. Two were successful, but one failed miserably. Why did this one man fail?

Some have suggested that he had no faith in himself. This is evident. But his lord had faith in him and that should have been a proper motivation for what this man could accomplish.

Also, this man perhaps compared himself with the others. He wasn’t as gifted as the other two men who were given greater responsibility. We also need to be careful that we do not compare ourselves with others and overlook what our Lord expects of us.

This man was also lazy. His master called him “wicked and lazy.” He simply didn’t try. To try and fail is common to all men. We learn from mistakes and start over more intelligently. But to fail without trying is inexcusable.

Lastly, this man feared his master. When we compare this scenario to our relationship with God, we should always be mindful of the judgment of God. But we should have no reason to fear Him in such a way.

After all, He gave His Son to die for us and still patiently waits for us to repent and be found righteous in Him. God has more faith in us than we have in ourselves. Instead of fearing God we should be emboldened by His favor upon us.

On Our Daily Walk today, may we never stop where God says go. May we never sit down when God says rise up. May we always be found faithful by our Lord.

Our thought for the day: “We can easily forgive a child who is afraid of the dark; the real tragedy of life is when men are afraid of the light.” Plato

May God bless you on your daily walk.

© Our Daily Walk, Mike Baker, 2007. Permission is granted to copy these articles provided they are not sold and the author's name and copyright are included.