"Again, it will be like a man going on a journey, who called his servants and entrusted his property to them. 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. The man who had received the five talents went at once and put his money to work and gained five more. So also, the one with the two talents gained two more. But the man who had received the one talent went off, dug a hole in the ground and hid his master's money.Several years ago I had a lady under my supervision that was chronically late for work. When she did arrive, she spent the first 30 minutes of the day in the restroom applying her make-up.
"After a long time the master of those servants returned and settled accounts with them. 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.'
"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!'
"The man with the two talents also came. 'Master,' he said, 'you entrusted me with two talents; see, I have gained two more.'
"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!'
"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. So I was afraid and went out and hid your talent in the ground. See, here is what belongs to you.'
"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? 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.
" 'Take the talent from him and give it to the one who has the ten talents. 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. And throw that worthless servant outside, into the darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.'
The lady was very attractive and had a pleasing personality but unfortunately the tasks assigned to her were poorly done or not done at all. While there was nothing “on paper” to indicate her ability to successfully complete higher level duties she had the habit of asking me for increased responsibilities on a regular basis.
What about you? How is your work ethic? Do you work faithfully? Are you working to the best of your ability for the Master, Jesus Christ? Are you completing your tasks in such a way that He will say to you, “Well done”? Or will He call you wicked and lazy?
The talents with which we begin our faith journey all differ in variety and amount. Some of us begin in abundance (five talents) and some with less. However, it is not how much we begin with that is relevant, but it is what we do with what we have been given that is so vitally important. What are you doing and what are you accomplishing with what the Master has given you?
The Christian life is one of love and the service to others borne out of that love. You are to “invest” the talents you have been given to add value to the Master’s estate. We aren’t working for our own increase; our reward is found in the pleasure and happiness of helping (increasing) and serving others; our reward is found in the way in which the Master greets us upon His return! Amen.
God Bless!
