“For it is just like a man about to go on a journey, who called his own slaves and entrusted his possessions to them. To one he gave five talents, to another, two, and to another, one, each according to his own ability; and he went on his journey. Immediately the one who had received the five talents went and traded with them, and gained five more talents. In the same manner the one who had received the two talents gained two more. But he who received the one talent went away, and dug a hole in the ground and hid his master’s money. “Now after a long time the master of those slaves came and settled accounts with them. The one who had received the five talents came up and brought five more talents, saying, ‘Master, you entrusted five talents to me. See, I have gained five more talents.’ His master said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful slave. You were faithful with a few things, I will put you in charge of many things; enter into the joy of your master.’ “Also the one who had received the two talents came up and said, ‘Master, you entrusted two talents to me. See, I have gained two more talents.’ His master said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful slave. You were faithful with a few things, I will put you in charge of many things; enter into the joy of your master.’ “And the one also who had received the one talent came up and said, ‘Master, I knew you to be a hard man, reaping where you did not sow and gathering where you scattered no seed. And I was afraid, and went away and hid your talent in the ground. See, you have what is yours.’ “But his master answered and said to him, ‘You wicked, lazy slave, you knew that I reap where I did not sow and gather where I scattered no seed. Then you ought to have put my money in the bank, and on my arrival I would have received my money back with interest. Therefore take away the talent from him, and give it to the one who has the ten talents.’ “For to everyone who has, more shall be given, and he will have an abundance; but from the one who does not have, even what he does have shall be taken away. Throw out the worthless slave into the outer darkness; in that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth. ~ Matthew 25:14-30
The Parable of the Talents is one of the most well-known parables of the Bible. We all want to hear the words, “Well done, good and faithful slave,” when we stand before the judgment seat. The good slaves weren’t rewarded because they produced five and two talents, respectively. They were rewarded that they used what their master had given them. Sometimes we think that what we have to offer is so little that it’s not worth sharing. We want to do great things for the Lord, but what He wants us to do is to use what He gave us. That may mean helping one person—let’s not avoid helping one person because we can’t help thousands.
Lord God, sometimes my efforts seem so small. I see people around me with so much more to offer than I have, and I wonder if my little can make a difference. But You have called me to use everything You have given me. Help me to use my own talents without comparing them to others. In the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.
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