The parable of the talents is a great passage to study if you are seeking to maximize your impact in the Kingdom of God. So often, we feel like we can’t make a significant difference in the world if we’re not wealthy or influential. This is not true. This parable shares Jesus’ heart for those of us who only have a little to give and his warning for those of us who hoard our resources for our own gain.
In Matthew 25:14-30 Jesus tells the story of a master and his servants. Before leaving on a trip, the master gave three of his servants money (called talents) to invest and steward while he was away. He gave one servant five talents, another servant two talents, and the last servant one servant. In the time the master was away, the first two servants invested the talents and made double the money. However, the third servant buried his one talent in the ground because he was afraid. When the master returned, the first two servants enthusiastically showed their master the money they had made, and he congratulated them. However, he harshly rebuked the servant, who had not done as he commanded. He took his talent and gave it to the servant with ten talents to multiply his results. The master promised that those who were faithful with few things would be given more, and to those who had much, more would be given.
In many of His parables, Jesus taught his followers what the Kingdom of God is like. In this one, He teaches that the Kingdom is for faithful servants who maximize His resources. God gives us all resources to be used for the glory of His name. When He comes again, you want to be found faithful. Then, you will hear the words, “Well done, good and faithful servant.”
Faithful Servants Multiply what’s Been Entrusted to Them
As sons and daughters of the King, we have been entrusted with something of great value. You have been entrusted with the message of the gospel: that Jesus died for you on the cross and rose from the dead so you could be forgiven of sins. The gospel holds power to transform lives, so we can’t just leave it sitting in a drawer collecting dust. If we’re diligent in preaching the message and investing in the Kingdom, we can be excited to show Jesus our hard work when He returns. Our King expects a return on investment when He comes to settle the accounts.
In the parable, the first two servants knew the master and trusted him, so they obeyed him. Their joy in greeting the master upon his return and presenting their investment results show their allegiance to him. As followers of Christ, we can have this same confidence. When we reach the gates of heaven, our King will greet His true followers with an exuberant welcome. On the other hand, the third servant in the story shows that he is not a true follower because he does not listen to what his master told him to do. As a result, he was crippled by fear, and the master says he was lazy. Because of his lack of obedience, he is cast out of the master’s presence. Those who were not true followers of Christ will be found out in the end and cast into hell. All of us will stand before the throne and give account for what God has entrusted to us. If you are a faithful servant, you don’t need to be afraid of that day because we know and love God and do what He says. On that day, you will enter into the joy of His presence. Only those who refuse to listen to Him are cast away in fear.
With More Blessing Comes More Responsibility
You’ve been entrusted with something of great value, so you’re responsible to be a good steward. But you’re not doing it alone. You have the power of God through his Spirit in you. The power of the gospel is potent, and with great power comes great responsibility. This passage reminds us that we should not squander this opportunity. We shouldn’t waste our time and talent by living for ourselves. Instead, we should use it for the good of others and the glory of God.
If you’ve neglected the talents that God has given you and buried the resources that He entrusted to you, it’s not too late to change. What gifts or skills could you use to advance the gospel? Do you have the gift of teaching or administration? Have you been blessed with wealth? The truth is, God doesn’t need your talent or money. God owns the cattle and a thousand hills. None of your riches can compare to anything that He has. He blesses us with these gifts, and he also blesses us with the ability to be generous with all He’s given. When we practice this generosity, it keeps our hearts from developing idols. Whatever time, talent, or wealth you have can be freely invested in the Kingdom. Even if you don’t think you have much to offer, the Bible says, “let everything that has breath praise the Lord.” God has given us every breath we take, so it’s our job to steward them well.
The Talents Belong to the Master
In this parable, the talents didn’t belong to the servants to hoard and neglect. They were given by the master. We need to remember the same principle. You don’t own anything – not your children, not your bank account, and not your talents. Everything has been given to you by God. Therefore, the faithless servant had no right to bury it, nor do you.
Everything that belongs to the master should be leveraged for His glory. Whether you were given five talents or one, the parable makes it clear that the talents were given to the servants according to their abilities. We need to stop looking at Instagram and comparing ourselves with what other people have. In the parable, it didn’t matter how many talents the servants had. In the end, the only thing that mattered was how good of a steward they had been. The same is true for you. No matter how much God has given you, He is watching to see if you are faithful. Those who are faithful with little will be given more. Those who are given much will never be lacking. The only servant who faced scarcity was the one who didn’t invest his talent. God gave you what He did on purpose, so don’t let a scarcity mindset be an excuse that keeps you from using it for His glory. Whether you have a little or a lot, He’s waiting to see what you do with it.
Next Steps
If you’ve ever felt like you can’t make a difference in this world, this parable should encourage you to go out and use whatever time, talent, or wealth you have for His glory! This is an opportunity to count your blessings and take stock of what He’s given you. If Jesus were to come back today, would you be proud to show Him how you invested every gift He gave you? If not, you can make a practical change today to become a better steward for His Kingdom.
If you are gifted with children, contact your children’s pastor to see how you can help. If you’re a passionate intercessor, spend some extra time in prayer for those in your community. If you’ve been given a lovely home, it might be time you hosted an event or led a small group. If you’ve experienced financial blessing, ask God how you can invest your wealth into eternal things. Everything you have is something you can use to build the Kingdom. So, don’t finish reading this blog post without taking one practical step to be like the faithful servants in this parable. Then, you can look forward to hearing the words, “well done, my good and faithful servant!”
