What did you do with what I gave you?

“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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