252. The Parable of the Talents

Matthew 25:14-30, Luke 19:11-27

Key Verse: "I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. Now there is in store for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, will award to me on that day and not only to me, but also to all who have longed for His appearing."

2 Timothy 4:7-8

Well, here we go again, with two different versions of the same story. Remember, if Jesus did use this parable on more than one occasion, as story teller, it is His prerogative to adjust the story depending on His audience. We will do better here again to focus on the similarities to get to the basic message.

So, we have here, once again, a master, who is a powerful person, who leaves home. We mentioned before the importance of a master to be able to leave the care of his property and possessions in the hands of servants he can trust. We actually learn, in this parable, just how the responsibility was distributed. He gave the first servant the most, demonstrating a great deal of trust in that individual. The second servant may not have been quite as capable or dependable, nevertheless, the master gave him a modest amount of responsibility, probably knowing that this servant's heart would mean well and do his best to please. The third servant received the least, and as the parable continues, we learn why. It may have been amazing to the other servants that the master entrusted him with anything at all. The master did entrust him with a small amount of responsibility though to give the servant a chance to prove himself. This is grace.

The master goes away for an undetermined amount of time. The servants do what they will do while they wait for the Master's return. When he returns to his home, it is time for the judgment. The first and second servants have risen to the challenge. The master is pleased. "Well done!" Then, along with the praise, they are given additional blessings and responsibilities according to what they have done.

It is the third servant that is most interesting. Not much was expected of him and he complied. His view of the master didn't help. He saw the master as grasping and demanding. He totally missed the grace that the master offered by giving him a chance at all. The master calls him "wicked," and banishes him to eternal punishment. We may want to come to his defense by explaining that, "at least he didn't lose what he was given! The master didn't lose anything. He just didn't gain anything either." How could that be so bad?

Is it possible that the reason that we are more quickly able to come to the third servant's defense is because we see ourselves in his shoes? What have we been given by God that we are not using for His glory? What talent or ability are we hiding, thinking that it won't matter anyway? We compare ourselves to the first and second servant types and belittle what we have been given to do. We see them as the movers and shakers and doubt that our small offering will really make any difference.

Obviously, however, from God's perspective, that isn't true. Even the small thing that we can do, we do because of His grace. He has entrusted us with something. And not just money, but any talent or ability that could be employed in his service. If we are found faithful in using it, it just could increase, as referred to in the "key verse" above, that if we are faithful, there is reward. Similarly, "I tell you that everyone who has, more will be given, but as for the one who has nothing, even what he has will be taken away." (Luke 19:26) "Whoever can be trusted with very little can also be trusted with much, and whoever is dishonest with very little will also be dishonest with much. So if you have not been trustworthy in handling worldly, wealth who will trust you with true riches? And if you have not been trustworthy with someone else's property, who will give you property of your own? (Luke 16:10-12) Basically, "Use it, or lose it." The choice is yours.

Hymn: "In My Life Lord, Be Glorified"