14 “For it will be like a man going on a journey, who called his servants and entrusted to them his property. 15 To one he gave five talents, to another two, to another one, to each according to his ability. Then he went away. 16 He who had received the five talents went at once and traded with them, and he made five talents more. 17 So also he who had the two talents made two talents more. 18 But he who had received the one talent went and dug in the ground and hid his master’s money. 19 Now after a long time the master of those servants came and settled accounts with them. 20 And he who had received the five talents came forward, bringing five talents more, saying, ‘Master, you delivered to me five talents; here, I have made five talents more.’ 21 His master said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant. You have been faithful over a little; I will set you over much. Enter into the joy of your master.’ 22 And he also who had the two talents came forward, saying, ‘Master, you delivered to me two talents; here, I have made two talents more.’ 23 His master said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant. You have been faithful over a little; I will set you over much. Enter into the joy of your master.’ 24 He also who had received the one talent came forward, saying, ‘Master, I knew you to be a hard man, reaping where you did not sow, and gathering where you scattered no seed, 25 so I was afraid, and I went and hid your talent in the ground. Here, you have what is yours.’ 26 But his master answered him, ‘You wicked and slothful servant! You knew that I reap where I have not sown and gather where I scattered no seed? 27 Then you ought to have invested my money with the bankers, and at my coming I should have received what was my own with interest. 28 So take the talent from him and give it to him who has the ten talents. 29 For to everyone who has will more be given, and he will have an abundance. But from the one who has not, even what he has will be taken away. 30 And cast the worthless servant into the outer darkness. In that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.’
(ESV)
STOP! Think a little 🤔 What is God saying to you?
- What is the writer saying?
- How do I apply this to my life?
This parable illustrates Jesus leaving for heaven and entrusting His servants, us believers, with the furtherance of His kingdom while He is away. Each of us has been entrusted with God’s property (talents in the parable refer directly to money, we have been entrusted with money, actual talents and abilities, and opportunities). Each of us is expected to use the opportunities, gifts and abilities that God has given us for the furtherance of His kingdom. This would include sharing the gospel as well as serving in His church. Each of us is given opportunities according to our ability. The master in the parable is gone for a long time. It is long enough that everyone has sufficient time to make the most of the opportunities given them but also so long that some may think that Jesus is never returning and will not hold his servants accountable. When the master did return, he called the servants to account for what they had done with what was entrusted to them. The first two were commended, given more responsibility and invited to join in the joy of their master. The third servant was reprimanded, demoted, and excluded from entering the joy of his master. He made excuses for the fact that he had not done anything with the money entrusted to him. His defence was that at least he still had what had been entrusted to him. He was called wicked and lazy because he had wasted opportunity. He was cast out from the celebration (light) into the outer darkness where he suffered grief because of the opportunities he had lost.
This parable is for believers (all three are servants of the master) who have all been given opportunities. Those who use the opportunities and gifts God has given them will be rewarded and given reward and further opportunities in heaven. Those who waste their opportunities will still be in heaven (because entrance into the kingdom is by faith alone) but will suffer loss and grieve because they did not make use of the opportunities God gave them (according to their ability) during their life. Are you using your life to God’s glory?