Devotion

The Parable of the Talents

Based on Matthew 25:14-30

A wealthy man, preparing for a long journey, entrusted his servants with his possessions according to their abilities. To one he gave five talents, to another two, and to another one. The first two servants immediately put their talents to work, doubling what they had been given. But the third servant, driven by fear, buried his talent in the ground.

When the master returned, he celebrated the faithful servants who had multiplied their gifts: "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!" But to the servant who had hidden his talent, the master's words were harsh: the talent was taken away and given to the one who had ten.

This parable isn't really about money or even natural abilities, though it encompasses both. It's about the gifts God has placed in your life—your time, your resources, your influence, your opportunities, your faith itself. These are the "talents" entrusted to you.

The question isn't whether you have talents. You do. The question is: what are you doing with them?

The first two servants understood something profound: what belongs to the master is meant to be used for the master's purposes. They didn't see their talents as possessions to hoard, but as tools to multiply. They took risks, made investments, and created value.

The third servant's problem wasn't lack of ability—he had received according to his capacity. His problem was fear. "I knew that you are a hard man," he said, revealing how his perception of the master shaped his actions. Fear paralysed him into inaction, and inaction became unfaithfulness.

How often do we bury our talents in the ground of fear? Fear of failure, fear of criticism, fear of inadequacy, fear of responsibility. We convince ourselves that doing nothing is safer than risking everything. But this parable reveals a startling truth: in God's economy, the greatest risk is taking no risks at all.

The servants who doubled their talents weren't necessarily more skilled—they were more faithful. They trusted the master's character and acted accordingly.

Notice the master's response to faithful stewardship: "Come and share your master's happiness!" The reward for faithfulness isn't just more responsibility—it's intimate fellowship and shared joy. When we faithfully use what God has given us, we enter into the very joy of our heavenly Father.

This transforms how we view our gifts. They're not burdens to bear or treasures to hide. They're invitations to participate in God's work in the world, to experience the deep satisfaction that comes from being exactly who He created us to be.

How can we live the parable out in our lives today? Here are a few ideas...

Identify Your Talents: What has God placed in your hands? Your professional skills, your compassionate heart, your ability to encourage others, your financial resources, your platform, your time? Don't underestimate the "small" gifts—remember, the servant with two talents received the same commendation as the one with five.

Invest, Don't Bury: Faithfulness requires action. It means stepping out of comfort zones, taking holy risks, and trusting God with the outcomes. The talents are meant to be multiplied, not preserved.

Remember Your Master: Your perception of God shapes your response to His gifts. Is He a harsh taskmaster to be feared, or a loving Father who delights in your faithful service? The servants who thrived saw opportunities where the fearful servant saw only threats.

Expect Accountability: The master returned. There was a reckoning. Our lives, too, will be evaluated not by worldly standards of success, but by the faithfulness with which we stewarded what was entrusted to us.

Prayer

Lord, help us to see clearly the talents You have placed in our lives. Give us courage to overcome the fear that would bury them and wisdom to invest them for Your kingdom's sake. May we be found faithful when You return, not because we achieved worldly success, but because we used every gift You gave us in service to You and others. Let us hear those words: "Well done, good and faithful servant." Amen.

Blessings!

Will Wallace

Principal