A few days ago, I found myself in Matthew 25, reading one of Jesus’ most famous parables—the parable of the talents. It’s a story we’ve all heard before, yet every time I return to it, I find it challenge me again and again. This time, what struck me most wasn’t just the story itself, but the mirror it held up to my own life.
The Parable of the Talents
Jesus likens the kingdom of heaven to a man who takes a long journey. Before he leaves, the master entrusts his possessions to three of his slaves. To one he gives five talents, to another two, and to the last, just one—each according to his ability.
In that day, the word talent did not refer to a skill or gifting like we use it today, but rather, it was simply a measure of weight—similar to the word “tonne” meaning ~2200 pounds for us today.
You could have a talent of silver or gold, and in either case, it was worth a fortune. So when the master distributed these talents to his slaves, he was not giving them pocket change, he was entrusting them with something precious.
When the master returned from his journey, he asked for an account from his slaves. The one who had received five talents had doubled his share. The one with two had also doubled his talents. Both of these men had traded, invested, and risked their talents—and both had garnered a return.
But the third servant buried his one talent in the ground. Out of fear, he hid what was given to him and produced nothing for the master.
The master’s response was sobering. He took the one talent from the fearful servant and gave it to the one who had ten. Then he said the words that echo across the centuries:
“For to everyone who has will more be given, and he will have an abundance. But from the one who has not, even what he has will be taken away.” —Matthew 25:29, ESV
Three Ways to Handle Our Talent
When I look at this parable, I see three ways we might respond to what God has entrusted to us:
- We can get in the game, and play to win!
Like the first servant, we can bring our talents to the marketplace—investing, risking, creating, and leading. We take what God has given us and multiply it for His kingdom.
- We can get in the game, but play it safe.
Maybe we’re still in the game, but we’re not taking big swings. We’ve placed our talent “in the bank,” earning a little interest but avoiding the risk. Jesus still considered this to be permissible, but it is not going to grant you His highest praise.
- We can stay on the sidelines, burying our talents.
Out of fear, pride, or laziness, we hide what God has placed in our hands. We waste the gift, we tell ourselves that we’ll use it later, we believe that we don’t have enough talents to be useful, or any other excuses that cause us to spurn God.
The Challenge Before Us
If this parable about God’s kingdom is true, then we all have a choice to make:
Will we hide what God has given us out of fear or selfishness?
Will we step into the marketplace, put our hands to the work, and see what God can do through our obedience?
Because if we do that, the promise still stands: “To those who have, more will be given.”
So let’s get after it this week. Let’s be people who take what God has entrusted to us—our time, our talent, our story—and use it for His kingdom.
The Master will be coming back.
Let’s make sure He finds us faithful.
Blessings,
