THE PARABLE OF THE TALENTS
Matthew 25:14-30 (NKJV) "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.'
I just love Jesus and His teachings. This is one of the many ones that are misunderstood. Lets break this one down and look at what Jesus wanted His audience to really see. First, we must see that each of the persons involved are referred to as servants. In other words they hold a special place in the man's household. What are we referred to as being in the new testament? Servants! In fact Jesus tells us in John that there is a point we can reach where He no longer calls us servants but friends, but that is a teaching in itself.
So the kingdom of heaven has been likened to this man who has servants and expects them to do certain things for him. The most important thing we must now notice is next and one of the most important teachings in this parable: "to each according to his own ability." Do you understand what Jesus was saying here? This is a key to understanding what is going to be asked of us on Judgment day. You have to see that the master did not overburden the servants! He did not demand that they be given burdens that they were not fully capable of handling. He gave them just what they could handle. Jesus knows every hair on your head, knows your every thought, knows your heart. 1 Corinthians 10:13 (NLT) 13But remember that the temptations that come into your life are no different from what others experience. And God is faithful. He will keep the temptation from becoming so strong that you can't stand up against it. When you are tempted, he will show you a way out so that you will not give in to it. If the Lord promises through Paul that we will never be tempted beyond what we can endure do you think He would ever ask us to do something He knew we could not do?
What has the Lord given you to do? Have you done it? Each and every Christian is to be a light to this world. Have you noticed that the world in getting darker? Have you asked yourself why? Have you searched the scriptures for an answer or just gone down the road with your blinders on? Well, my friends, every Christian that does not fulfill his call is part of the reason this world grows darker every day. Each of us have been given talents to use for the Lord. Each has been given a mission to fulfill. America is the richest nation in the world yet we are also the greediest. We consume more and give back less than any other nation in the world. I was commenting to my wife just the other day how many new storage areas have been built in our little town in the last few years. As the old gospel songs so aptly puts it. "You don't see no hearses with u-hauls"
When Jesus gave one of His examples of the final judgment He made a point of asking simple things. He asked if those being judged had visited the sick or the prisoner. He asked if they had given a cold person a coat or fed the hungry. He asked if they gave a thirsty person a cold glass of water to quench their thirst. He asked if we gave a stranger a helping hand. Very easy and simple things, things that if every person who used the name of Christ did the world would be a better place. Just think for one moment, how would the current trend of Christians being called hateful bigots have ever happened if each and every one calling themselves Christians did just the simple loving things above? But instead they are all sowing their seeds to meet their needs. Christians on the whole have become more concerned with what God will do for them than what they can do for God. We need to get back to the basics and quit listening to the garbage spewed from the lips of pastors that have one thing in mind, making themselves rich at the sacrifice of your soul.
When Jesus sat with the woman at the well how did he handle the situation? He was God and knew that she was living in sin with a man. He knew how many times she had been married and divorced. He knew every detail of her sorted past. Yet He opens his conversation by asking for a simple drink. Why is this so strange? She tells us that she is a Samaritan. Therefore, it is unheard of for a Jew to be asking for a drink from her kind. Jesus then goes on to offer her living water. Water from which, if she drinks she will never thirst again. Notice that Jesus does not tell her she is a sinner and will go to hell if she does not repent. He offers her something better. He offers her a gift of living water. But here is where the rubber meets the road. Jesus then tests her sincerity by asking about her husband. She skirts the truth and gives a half truth. But Jesus lovingly corrects her with the truth. To make a long story short Jesus turns her into an evangelist by offering a gift of living water and then bringing her to realize her sin and showing Himself to be the Savior.
My point you ask? Let's go back to the parable. Each servant was given according to his ability. One was given five talents, one was given two talents and one given only one talent. Each had the ability to do the job given. The first two used the talents to gain additional talents. We are not told how because that is not important. What is important is that they used their ability to do what was expected of them. But the last did not use his ability, he was afraid and hid the talent. What was his reward? He was cast into the outer darkness.
Which of the servants are you? Are you the one Jesus has trusted with much and are working to return to the Kingdom of God much? Are you the one that Jesus has trusted with little and are working to multiply it? Or are you the one Jesus has trusted with little and you hold on to it tightly afraid to lose it? Many, many Christians are like this when it comes to giving to the Lord financially. If you are a Christian then every financial blessing you have is from the Lord. But, what do you do with it.? On the average only 2 to 3 percent of fundamental professing Christians give to the Lord's work. That means that 97 to 98 percent of fundamental professing Christians hold on to the financial blessing the Lord gives them so tight that they can hear the eagle cry on their money. What does Jesus say? '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." Do you get the drift here? Can you see the deeper picture? Does Jesus say "for to everyone who sows his seed into this ministry, he will be given more and will have abundance"? No he says " for everyone who has". Has what, have you ever wondered? Jesus has just taken the one talent from the poor servant and given it to the one who already had ten. Why? because the one with ten talents had been faithful with little and now he would get more. Jesus did not demand much from the servant with the one talent. He made it so easy that all the servant had to do was put the talent in the bank and let it draw interest. But the "lazy and wicked" servant could not even do that. If you are in the 97 to 98 percent of fundamental professing Christians that cannot even invest in the Kingdom of God I feel sorry for you. Do you realize what the church of Jesus could do if Christians would open up their hearts and pockets and give like they should? If you are in that group my friend then you are just like the servant with the one hidden talent and your fate is going to be the same. Cast into the outer darkness!
What did the faithful servants get? They got to enter into the Joy of their master and become rulers over much. Why? Because they had been, NOW! Get this, faithful of little! You want more, you want abundance in your life? Then use the talents that the Lord has given you and multiply them. I can guarantee it, you can take it to the bank, that if you are faithful with what the Lord has given you, you will see an increase in what He gives you. Our Lord is generous with giving us talents to use for the Kingdom of God. But he is not a Santa Claus savior who just gives us talents and abundance because we are good. We must use what we have for the Kingdom of God not for ourselves. That my friend is why the "sow your seed to meet your need" doctrine is straight from hell. It focuses you on your needs not the Kingdom of God's. In the parable of the talents have you noticed yet that both good and faithful servants not only got to keep the original talents they were given control over but the additional gain. You want abundance in your life, and I am not just talking money. the faithful servants got to enter into the Lords Joy. You want abundance in your life, start using your talents for the Lord and watch them multiply. Get off your spiritual rear ends and get on those feet and use your talents for Jesus. Quit sitting in your pew or in front of your television watching false teachers and preachers and shouting AMEN and get out into the world and use the talents God gave you! Show the world that Christians are not a bunch of hate mongers, but want to serve and offer the world a better way. A way filled with abundance and joy, not sin, and debauchery. We know the "Way, the Truth and the Life". Why are we afraid to give it out freely to those around us? Enter into the Kingdom of heaven and the Saviors Joy by doing the Will of the Father in heaven not your own will. Jesus took His ministry to the people. He walked with, ate with, slept with, and taught the common people. The only time you found Jesus in the Temple was to teach the Jews. But, when it came to preaching, Jesus' most famous sermon was on a hilltop preaching to the common man and woman. Jesus offered the world then, the same thing we can offer the world now. A better life with more abundance and joy unspeakable. Do you know someone who needs that right now? If you do have you given them a chance to have it? And if not, why haven't you given it to them? Only you can answer that one my friend, but remember the fate of the unfaithful servant.
I will leave you with this true story. I was preaching in a small church in a small community recently. The church has been in this location for over 12 years with the same pastor. On the way to the church Mary and I stopped at the local convenience store a few blocks from the church. I mentioned I was preaching at this local Christian church to the woman that checked us out. That woman commented how she would love to come over to the church. She also mentioned that she did not even know it existed and thanked us for the invitation. Now, when I mentioned this to one of the churches long time members they were just shocked. They were not shocked that someone did not know of the Church. They were shocked that someone wanted to come to the church. Do you get my point? If you dig a hole and hide your talent, you are digging your own spiritual grave my friends.
God Bless
