The parable of the Talents – Matthew 25: 14-30

‘A man, going on a journey, summoned his slaves and entrusted his property to them; to one he gave five talents, to another two, to another one, to each according to his ability. Then he went away.  The one who had received the five talents went off at once and traded with them, and made five more talents.  In the same way, the one who had the two talents made two more talents.  But the one who had received the one talent went off and dug a hole in the ground and hid his master’s money.  

After a long time the master of those slaves came and settled accounts with them.  Then the one who had received the five talents came forward, bringing five more talents, saying, “Master, you handed over to me five talents; see, I have made five more talents.”  His master said to him, “Well done, good and trustworthy slave; you have been trustworthy in a few things, I will put you in charge of many things; enter into the joy of your master.”  And the one with the two talents also came forward, saying, “Master, you handed over to me two talents; see, I have made two more talents.”  His master said to him, “Well done, good and trustworthy slave; you have been trustworthy in a few things, I will put you in charge of many things; enter into the joy of your master.”  Then the one who had received the one talent also came forward, saying, “Master, I knew that you were a harsh man, reaping where you did not sow, and gathering where you did not scatter seed; so I was afraid, and I went and hid your talent in the ground. Here you have what is yours.”  

But his master replied, “You wicked and lazy slave! You knew, did you, that I reap where I did not sow, and gather where I did not scatter?  Then you ought to have invested my money with the bankers, and on my return I would have received what was my own with interest.  So take the talent from him, and give it to the one with the ten talents.  For to all those who have, more will be given, and they will have an abundance; but from those who have nothing, even what they have will be taken away.  As for this worthless slave, throw him into the outer darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.’

Reflection

This parable in Matthew envisages a master going away and leaving his servants with responsibilities to fulfil.  There seems to be a long time to wait, and the issue is… who will be ready for the master’s return.

However, it also suggests what that readiness must be. It is not to be in passive waiting but in getting on with the job and making the most of the opportunities entrusted to us.

The talents in differing amounts, were given to each servant, according to his ability, and the return expected was in proportion to the sum entrusted.

The word Talent is simply the Greek name for a (very large) sum of money, in modern terms equivalent to several thousand pounds. But in this parable the word Talent has been applied to the God-given gifts and abilities which we are responsible for using.

God recognizes that we are all different and expects of us only what is appropriate. God never demands from us abilities which we haven’t got. But he does demand that we use the abilities we have got to the full. None of us are equal in talent but we can be equal in our effort, and whatever talent we do have, whether small or great, we must lay it at the service of God.

It is significant that the two successful servants receive identical commendations from the master, even though the scale of their original responsibility, and therefore of their achievement, is different.

But to have a lesser ‘gift’ does not excuse us from appropriate effort. The fault of the third servant was that he did not recognize his master’s intention, and opted for safety instead of service. Hoping to avoid doing anything wrong, he finished up by not actually doing anything right.

While the third servant’s description of the master as a grasping capitalist is not meant to be a symbolic description of God......

God does expect, and reward, creative use of the opportunities for service which are open to us all. If we mistakenly view God as a hard taskmaster it will be hard for us to respond to him in a loving and open way. We are to use his gifts responsibly, but also adventurously. That way we can be ready for the Second Coming.

It is the lesson of life that the only way to keep a gift is to use it in the service of God and in the service of our fellow–men.

Prayer

Teach us, good Lord, to serve thee as thou deservest;

to give and not to count the cost;

to fight and not to heed the wounds;

to toil and not to seek for rest;

to labour and not to ask for any reward,

save that of knowing that we do thy will;

through Jesus Christ our Lord.  Amen.

Penny Bonham