Jesus would speak to people in parables to share understandings to us about the Kingdom of God that we just did not have the ability to comprehend. He knew some things about heaven that he needed to be able to convey to us. He wanted to do it in a way that we would remember so he used stories that we could relate to in order to show things about his kingdom. That was just one of the ways he taught. I will now share with you one of these parables in Mathew 25.
14 For the kingdom of heaven is as a man travelling into a far country, who called his own servants, and delivered unto them his goods.
15 And unto one he gave five talents, to another two, and to another one; to every man according to his several ability; and straightway took his journey.
16 Then he that had received the five talents went and traded with the same, and made them other five talents.
17 And likewise he that had received two, he also gained other two.
18 But he that had received one went and dug a hole in the earth, and hid his lord’s money.
19 After a long time the lord of those servants cometh, and reckoned with them.
20 And so he that had received five talents came and brought other five talents, saying, Lord, you delivered unto me five talents: behold, I have gained beside them five talents more.
21 His lord said unto him, well done, thou good and faithful servant: thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord.
22 He also that had received two talents came and said, Lord, you delivered unto me two talents: behold, I have gained two other talents beside them.
23 His lord said unto him, Well done, good and faithful servant; thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord.
24 Then he which had received the one talent came and said, Lord, I knew thee that thou art an hard man, reaping where thou hast not sown, and gathering where thou hast not scattered seed:
25 And I was afraid, and went and hid thy talent in the earth: lo, there thou hast that is thine.
26 His lord answered and said unto him, You wicked and slothful servant, you knew that I reap where I sowed not, and gather where I have not strawed:
27 Thou oughtest therefore to have put my money to the exchangers, and then at my coming I should have received mine own with interest.
28 Take therefore the talent from him, and give it unto him which hath ten talents.
29 For unto every one that hath shall be given, and he shall have abundance: but from him that hath not shall be taken away even that which he hath.
30 And cast ye the unprofitable servant into outer darkness: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.
Again I would like to mention that the first two were rewarded. That should show us about the heart of God who wants to reward us. I also see of theme of accountability in there. I see a connection with that and the Parable of the Ten Virgins. Where we have to have the type of a heart that wants to serve our master. Until we get to that point and we realize that he is the creator of the universe and we are created beings and he deserves that type of respect. He deserves for that type of obedience. Especially for what he did when he sent his son to die on the cross.
Another comparison I can’t help but see is that he buried it in the ground. It makes me think about the Christians who bury their faith that they have in Jesus in the ground. In other words they don’t tell anyone about it. We are ashamed of Jesus to the point that we would rather bury any identity we have with Him in the ground rather than be publicly identified with Him. Jesus talked about how that if we are ashamed of Him and His words, He will be ashamed of us when He comes in His glory and the glory of the Father and of the Holy Angels.
Another thing is that I really feel like I need to mention about this, for anybody who feels like they have buried their talent in the sand. I don’t look down on anybody because I have done the same thing. It was stories like this that got my attentions and got me to start seeking God for his help. The master asked him why he didn’t put the money with the exchangers so it could have gained interest. That makes me think that if we have certain fears about putting our faith in action we should get around some people who are doing some of the things that are giving back to the Lord and His Kingdom so that something can be developed in us just from being around them. We become more and more like the people we hang around. If we are going to hang around wise people we are going to become wise. If we hang around with foolish worldly people we are just going to squander our inheritance in the Kingdom of God away. That is not something, if we are wise, that we want to do. How many people have been praying for wisdom?
Others may have been given more talents but we should still get around the means of giving something more back then we were given. What I have learned is that when God gives me something to go out there and work, something that he has blessed me with to actually use for his Kingdom, that whenever I get out there and work it he gives me more stuff to do, even better stuff. That’s what we have to look forward to. Thank you very much for listening or reading.
