The Parable of the Talents
“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” (Matthew 25:14-19).
The Man Who Didn’t Invest His Talent
The Lord gives men daily provisions in the form of talents. He wants us to use these talents for our blessing and to bless others. The first two stewards understood and accepted God’s talents as gifts of love from God and labored happily to increase them with grateful and thankful hearts. They both used the resources by “trading” to gain a profit. Each of them made a 100 percent profit.
However, the third steward did not appreciate God’s gift to him. He buried the money in the earth and returned the original talent. The first and second profitable stewards are praised, given added responsibilities and welcomed to enter into the fellowship of their Lord. But the ungrateful steward was rejected.
The negligent servant’s knowledge placed upon him a duty. He could have done something about the investment had he chosen to. He was without excuse. He had the ability to double or at least increase the one talent. The Lord accepts a man according to what he can do, and never expects more of him than that. “For if there is first a willing mind, it is accepted according to what one has, and not according to what he does not have” (2 Corinthians 8:12).
The lazy servant could have invested the money with the money exchangers, if he feared (Matthew 25:25) to become involved in a more difficult business transactions. The amount of profit might have been less, but even that would have been better than doing nothing. Therefore, the opportunities and work one man rejects are given to another who will take advantage of them and make the most of them.
In His service,
BibleAsk Team
