A Weekly Walk in the Word
with Wanda
The Parable of the Talents
Matthew 25:14-27 Again, it will be like a man going on a journey, who called his servants and entrusted his property to them. To one he gave five talents of money, to another two talents, and to another one talent, each according to his ability. Then he went on his journey. The man who had received the five talents went at once and put his money to work and gained five more. So also, the one with the two talents gained two more. But the man who had received the one talent went off, dug a hole in the ground and hid his master’s money. After a long time the master of those servants returned and settled accounts with them. The man who had received the five talents brought the other five. “Master,” he said, “you entrusted me with five talents. See, I have gained five more.” His master replied, “Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master’s happiness!” The man with the two talents also came, “Master,” he said, “you entrusted me with two talents; see, I have gained two more.” His master replied, “Well, done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master’s happiness!” Then the man who had received the one talent came. “Master,” he said, ” I know that you are a hard man, harvesting where you have not sown and gathering where you have not scattered seed. So I was afraid and went out and hid your talent in the ground. See here is what belongs to you.” His master replied, “You wicked, lazy servant! So you knew that I harvest where I have not sown and gather where I have not scattered seed? Well then, you should have put my money on deposit with the bankers, so that when I returned I would have received it back with interest. Take the talent from him and give it to the one who has the ten talents. For everyone who has will be given more, and he will have an abundance. Whoever does not have, even what he has will be taken from him. And throw that worthless servant outside, into the darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.”
Our oldest son travels quite a bit for work, which allows him several hours of windshield time. He fills many of those hours listening to financial experts on talk radio. So, a year ago for Christmas he gifted each family member Dave Ramsey’s book The Total Money Makeover, a fifty dollar bill tucked in the cover, and a hand written challenge to invest the money wisely.
I failed. One year later, I found the crisp fifty dollar bill, untouched, tucked in the cover of my unread book. How could I have let such a thoughtful, generous gift go unused?
God has blessed us all with gifts and talents to be used. Don’t be like me or the third servant who tucked our blessings away for safe keeping. Use the gifts and talents God has given you. Don’t let another day pass without opening the book he has given you to learn how to wisely invest the gifts you have been given.
How will you answer when the master returns to settle accounts?
A Weekly Walk in the Word 