“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. At once the one who had received the five talents went off 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, 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, NRSVue)
So when Jesus tells a parable, we usually look at it and go, where is God, or who is Jesus in this story. Commentaries I read say that Jesus is obviously the master. But we can not allow the parable to speak to Jesus’ nature. It is a story, and while Jesus may be the master in it, he is not a harsh man who reaps where he did not scatter or gathers where he did not sow.
But really? Will God deal harshly with someone who is given something and keeps it to themselves? Again, this is a story about the coming of the kingdom, and the end of the time we have here.
Is God saddened by us not using the gifts we have been given for the furthering of the kingdom, even a little bit?
You see, I agree with the commentators who speak about this passage as a look at the world and how we use the gifts God has given us. We are given gifts according to who we are, and those who used their gifts, invested their gifts, saw a return for the use of the gift. They were able to be a productive vessel in the world. But the one who did not use the gift, who hid it away for whatever reason, was being selfish and not sharing their gift with the world.
God will not cast you away. They might be saddened, but They will not leave you or forsake you, but why would you hid your gift?
How have you used what you’ve been given to spread grace, mercy, and love in the world?
