“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. “So he who had received five talents came and brought five other talents, saying, ‘Lord, you delivered to me five talents; look, I have gained five more talents besides them.’ His lord said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant; you were faithful over a few things, I will make you ruler over many things. Enter into the joy of your lord.’ He also who had received two talents came and said, ‘Lord, you delivered to me two talents; look, I have gained two more talents besides them.’ His lord said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant; you have been faithful over a few things, I will make you ruler over many things. Enter into the joy of your lord.’ “Then he who had received the one talent came and said, ‘Lord, I knew you to be a hard man, reaping where you have not sown, and gathering where you have not scattered seed. And I was afraid, and went and hid your talent in the ground. Look, there you have what is yours.’ “But his lord answered and said to him, ‘You wicked and lazy servant, you knew that I reap where I have not sown, and gather where I have not scattered seed. So you ought to have deposited my money with the bankers, and at my coming I would have received back my own with interest. So take the talent from him, and give it to him who has ten talents. For to everyone who has, more will be given, and he will have abundance; but from him who does not have, even what he has will be taken away. And cast the unprofitable servant into the outer darkness. There will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.’ Matthew 25: 14-30, NKJV.
Dear God, we know that Your coming is soon, but we do not know the hour. Please help us to invest our time and all other talents wisely, so that at Your coming we will have something to offer You. In the name of Jesus Christ we pray. Amen.
I was tempted to abbreviate our Scripture for today. But because I had copied all the others in their entirety, I decided to do the same with this Scripture. My comments will be brief, as it is self-explanatory.
The outstanding details in this parable are: the Master who goes on a rather lengthy trip. Before He leaves He divides up His possessions among His servants. One servant fears his master.
Nothing is said about the time of His return. And as far as we read, there is no instruction given them about what to do with the possessions they have received. Nevertheless, two of these servants seem to know their Master well, because they both invest the possessions that have been entrusted to them. One servant however, claiming to know His master – buries His possessions. His behavior is motivated by fear. It is obvious that he does not really know the master, because to know Him is to love Him, and, “There is no fear in love; but perfect love casts out fear, because fear involves torment. But he who fears has not been made perfect in love” (1 John 4: 18).
The two who invested the possessions that were entrusted to them are highly recommended, and they are rewarded with additional goods; while the servant who buries his portion is punished – but not before being informed by the master, why, he is being punished: for failing to make good use of the means that were entrusted to him while awaiting his return.
Like the master in this parable of the kingdom, Jesus has left His people well equipped, with all that they will need to accomplish the work that He has left us to do while we await His return. What is more, He has informed us what we are to be doing in His absence: “Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” Amen.
May God grant that when He returns He may find us busy, doing His will!