SHARING BREAD
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.’”
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.’”
Matt
25:14-30 (NIV)
Doesn’t appear to be a very good outcome for those who bury their
talents – to say the least! While yesterday’s
Parable of the Ten Virgins stressed our need for preparedness, our parable
today – the Parable of the Talents – emphasizes our need towards service while
the Master is away. We are each held
accountable for how we live and invest our lives. We are not simply to be involved in this
pursuit but committed. Scripture tells
us:
15 Be very careful, then, how you live--not as unwise but
as wise, 16 making
the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil. 17 Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the
Lord's will is. Eph 5:15-17 (NIV)
“The difference
between involvement and commitment is like ham and eggs. The chicken is involved,
the pig is committed.” Martina Navratilova
Besides that, all that we have, we have received from
above. We are to use these gifts to
serve others, faithfully administering God’s grace in its various forms. Scripture tells us:
7 For who makes you different from anyone else? What do
you have that you did not receive? And if you did receive it, why do you boast
as though you did not? 1 Cor 4:7 (NIV)
7 The end of all things is near. Therefore be clear minded and self-controlled so that you can pray. 8 Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins. 9 Offer hospitality to one another without grumbling. 10 Each one should use whatever gift he has received to serve others, faithfully administering God's grace in its various forms. 1 Peter 4:7-10 (NIV)
In our verses for today we are told of the Master entrusting
differing talents to three servants prior to His journey, their results or lack
of results that ensued and the Master’s response. The Master distributed the talents according
to ability to enable each to work for Him for their good and His glory. All of Christ’s gifts are rich and valuable
and each child is given at least one to “make hay while the sun shines”. We are all to be diligent and faithful in applying
ourselves to this business. We are told
in Scripture that the desires of the diligent are fully satisfied while the
sluggard craves and gets nothing:
4 The sluggard craves and gets nothing, but the desires
of the diligent are fully satisfied. Prov 13:4 (NIV)
Next we are told of the accounting of the works done with
the gifts received and the Master’s reaction.
We will all be reckoned with – what we have done for our own souls and
for others. Good stewards have something
to show for their diligence. Their faith
is shown by what they do. Our comfort in
the day of accounting will be according to our faithfulness and sincerity –
according to the uprightness of our hearts.
In our parable the Master rewards the first two for their work and
labors of love yet for the one who did nothing with his talents but bury it,
ruin lay at his door. Slothfulness makes
way for wickedness. He is deprived of
his talent and sentenced outside into the darkness “where there will be weeping and gnashing of
teeth”. Again, it doesn’t
appear to be a very good thing to bury our talents!
What I glean from this:
· Jesus
emphasizes my need for service. I am to
demonstrate my faith by what I do.
· I am to be
committed in this pursuit – living wise.
·
Diligent hands are fully satisfied.
