“For it is as if a man, going on a journey, summoned his slaves and entrusted his property to them; to one he gave five talents, to another two, to another one, to each according to his ability. Then he went away. The one who had received the five talents went off at once and traded with them, and made five more talents. In the same way, the one who had the two talents made two more talents. But the one who had received the one talent went off and dug a hole in the ground and hid his master’s money. After a long time the master of those slaves came and settled accounts with them. Then the one who had received the five talents came forward, bringing five more talents, saying, ‘Master, you handed over to me five talents; see, I have made five more talents.’ His master said to him, ‘Well done, good and trustworthy slave; you have been trustworthy in a few things, I will put you in charge of many things; enter into the joy of your master.’ And the one with the two talents also came forward, saying, ‘Master, you handed over to me two talents; see, I have made two more talents.’ His master said to him, ‘Well done, good and trustworthy slave; you have been trustworthy in a few things, I will put you in charge of many things; enter into the joy of your master.’ Then the one who had received the one talent also came forward, saying, ‘Master, I knew that you were a harsh man, reaping where you did not sow, and gathering where you did not scatter seed; so I was afraid, and I went and hid your talent in the ground. Here you have what is yours.’ But his master replied, ‘You wicked and lazy slave! You knew, did you, that I reap where I did not sow, and gather where I did not scatter? Then you ought to have invested my money with the bankers, and on my return I would have received what was my own with interest. So take the talent from him, and give it to the one with the ten talents. For to all those who have, more will be given, and they will have an abundance; but from those who have nothing, even what they have will be taken away. As for this worthless slave, throw him into the outer darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.’ (Matthew 25:14-30, NRSV)
It is a hard set of verses. For if the master here is God, is God a harsh man?
And how are we to interpret this?
Well we are all given talents, and if we don’t use them then we will have to answer to God for why we did not use them.
But how are we to know how to use them? And did we get it right?
Vocation has become a destination. Our calling in life has become a place we must get to.
But God never intended our gifts to be used in one way and only one way. He never intended for one destination of a calling.
Our lives are meant to be journeys with Him, and His body. We need to use the gifts He has given us in service to Him as we journey with Him and others through this life.
If we use the talents and gifts He has given us, then we are not being lazy, but utilizing what He has given us.
Does that mean we will always do the right thing and everything will be hunky dory? No. We will fail and fall on our faces, but He will be there to pick us up and help us to move forward.
So use you gifts and talents as you journey with God here in this place. Showing forth His love, grace and mercy for all creation.
aSacredRebel 