“In the parable, the landlord gives one person five talents,
the next person two, and the other person just one. The talents referred to in
the parable were a lot of money at the time. The first two went out and used
the talents to make even more, actually doubling their amounts. The third one
was so afraid that he would lose the talent, he buried it. When the landlord
returned, he was very pleased with the first two servants, but he chastised the
third one for hiding the talent and not doing anything to increase it.
“I believe that this is what God expects from us, during our
lives. I believe he has given every one of us everything we need to fulfill our
purpose here on earth, but the only way you can truly find your purpose is to
go out and put your talents to work, grow and develop them. Nowhere does it say
that they just sat and prayed for the talents to increase. The first two went
out and did what the third one couldn’t fathom; they put their talents at risk.
The third one was paralyzed by fear. What if the risk failed, and they lost
what they were given; what would have happened to them, then? But the first two
didn’t let this fear stop them. They went out and made good decisions and were
rewarded for the risk they took.
“It’s just like the flat earth we talked about, most people
limit themselves to stay put out of fear. God gave us all free will and, with
it, the chance to choose. He also gave us guidelines for how he wants us to
live our lives, but he left it up to us to choose how we live and what
relationship we maintain with him. Most people pray for things they want,
money, fame, or some relationship, and I’ve always thought God must just shake
his head and think, ‘It’s all there for you, just go make it happen.” (excerpt from Life Pioneers: The Edge of Possibility!)
Matthew 25: 14 - 30
14 "For it
will be as when a man going on a journey called his servants and entrusted to
them his property;
15 to one he gave
five talents, to another two, to another one, to each according to his ability.
Then he went away.
16 He who had
received the five talents went at once and traded with them; and he made five
talents more.
17 So also, he who
had the two talents made two talents more.
18 But he who had
received the one talent went and dug in the ground and hid his master's money.
19 Now after a long
time the master of those servants came and settled accounts with them.
20 And he who had
received the five talents came forward, bringing five talents more, saying,
`Master, you delivered to me five talents; here I have made five talents more.'
21 His master said
to him, `Well done, good and faithful servant; you have been faithful over a
little, I will set you over much; enter into the joy of your master.'
22 And he also who
had the two talents came forward, saying, `Master, you delivered to me two
talents; here I have made two talents more.'
23 His master said
to him, `Well done, good and faithful servant; you have been faithful over a
little, I will set you over much; enter into the joy of your master.'
24 He also who had
received the one talent came forward, saying, `Master, I knew you to be a hard
man, reaping where you did not sow, and gathering where you did not winnow;
25 so I was afraid,
and I went and hid your talent in the ground. Here you have what is yours.'
26 But his master
answered him, `You wicked and slothful servant! You knew that I reap where I
have not sowed, and gather where I have not winnowed?
27 Then you ought
to have invested my money with the bankers, and at my coming I should have
received what was my own with interest.
28 So take the
talent from him, and give it to him who has the ten talents.
29 For to everyone
who has will more be given, and he will have abundance; but from him who has not,
even what he has will be taken away.
30 And cast the
worthless servant into the outer darkness; there men will weep and gnash their
teeth.'”
As he read through
it again, for the first time, he realized the power of the parable and
understood that what had driven his Grandpa, throughout his life, was the
desire to someday hear the words, “Well done, good and faithful servant, you
have been faithful over a little, I will set you over much; enter into the joy
of your master.” As thought about his Grandpa, the man seemed to grow a little
larger.
We hide or bury our talents for many reasons, our personal fears and limitation and those placed on us from others. Even when you have some level of success people with question your motives and why you continue to pursue improvement. Most people can't understand that the question cannot be answered until our judgement day.
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