Talent

Yesterday at bible study we had a good discussion of next Sunday's scripture readings.  The gospel reading is Matthew 25:14-30.  It is about the master who, before leaving on a journey, entrusted a great deal of money with three slaves. Here is the parable:

The Parable of the Talents

14 "Again, it will be like a man going on a journey, who called his servants and entrusted his property to them. 15 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. 16 The man who had received the five talents went at once and put his money to work and gained five more. 17 So also, the one with the two talents gained two more. 18 But the man who had received the one talent went off, dug a hole in the ground and hid his master's money. 19 "After a long time the master of those servants returned and settled accounts with them. 20 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.' 21 "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!' 22 "The man with the two talents also came. 'Master,' he said, 'you entrusted me with two talents; see, I have gained two more.' 23 "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!' 24 "Then the man who had received the one talent came. 'Master,' he said, 'I knew that you are a hard man, harvesting where you have not sown and gathering where you have not scattered seed. 25 So I was afraid and went out and hid your talent in the ground. See, here is what belongs to you.' 26 "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? 27 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. 28 " 'Take the talent from him and give it to the one who has the ten talents. 29 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. 30 And throw that worthless servant outside, into the darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.'

So what do we make of all this.  Our study group uses Synthesis CE as the aid in our discussions.  In the interpretation segment of this study guide it referenced a writing by Keith Wagner.  He wrote,
" This story is a sad commentary on those who are unwilling to take risks with the resources God has given them."   I do not know if it is a sad commentary but I would certainly put it in the category of a cautionary tale. 


We all have been given gifts from God and we are expected to use those gifts in a way that expresses our love for God and God's creation.  My concern is that I know God has given me many gifts and I use them...some.  However, I spend a lot of time in this life doing little or nothing.  I spend a lot of my precious God given time actively looking for distractions when I could actually be doing some good in this world.  There, I am done beating myself up. 

I think I will get out of this chair and make use of my talent.