 |
| Photo source: josejnrbertobooks.com |
I am reading through the book of Matthew and came across the parable of the talents.
This is a familiar story to me, but something new struck me as I read it this time around.
Let's look at the text together today, starting in chapter 25, verse 14:
“For it [the kingdom of heaven] will be like a man going on a journey, who called his servants and entrusted to them his property. To one he gave five talents, to another two, to another one, to each according to his ability. Then he went away. He who had received the five talents went at once and traded with them, and he made five talents more. So also he who had the two talents made two talents more. But he who had received the one talent went and dug in the ground and hid his master's money. Now after a long time the master of those servants came and settled accounts with them. 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.’ 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.’ 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.’ 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.’ 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, so I was afraid, and I went and hid your talent in the ground. Here, you have what is yours.’ 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? 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. So take the talent from him and give it to him who has the ten talents. 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. And cast the worthless servant into the outer darkness. In that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.’" (ESV; emphasis mine)
So, in this parable, we have three servants that are given varying amounts of talents (a sizable amount of gold), and two of these servants go on to invest these talents wisely, ultimately giving back to their master more than what they started with. However, the third servant simply buries his talent, having nothing more to show his master than what he started with when the master returns. For this action (or inaction, to be more accurate), this servant is labeled as "slothful" and "wicked" and ultimately banished and damned.
Now, what I find interesting is that the ONLY motive mentioned here with regards to the actions of the third servant is one little four-letter word:
FEAR
According to his personal testimony, he wasn't being lazy or particularly malicious; he admits only to being afraid.
Now, one other interesting thing about this parable is that from it arises our contemporary use of the word "talent" to mean "gift or skill" in English and other languages.
So, this all gets me to thinking...
How many times do I let fear undermine the use of the talents and skills that the Lord has given to me for the advancement of His kingdom? How many times do I steer the conversation away from spiritual matters with a neighbor, for fear of offending them with matters of my faith, instead of towards it? How many times have I turned down an opportunity to speak to a large group of people about what God is teaching me, or serve in some other uncomfortable capacity in my church or community, because I was afraid?
How about you, dear one? Do you let fear boss you around, negatively impacting what you do, what you say, or where you go, as you attempt to make an impact for the kingdom of God? Does fear tempt you to bury your God-given ministry skills and gifts, instead of using them for other's good and His glory?
Oh, how I pray that we would both learn from this parable and be counted along with the good and faithful servants, who do NOT let fear hinder their ministry for the Lord!! Let us wisely invest our talents and abilities, so we will be able to reap a bountiful harvest for the Kingdom!
No comments