Matthew 25:14-30 (ESV)

¹⁴ “For it will be like a man going on a journey, who 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 scattered no seed, 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 sown and gather where I scattered no seed? 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 an abundance. But from the one who has not, even what he has will be taken away. ³⁰ And cast the worthless servant into the outer darkness. In that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.’

Jesus taught a parable illustrating our need to be faithful with what we have. In this parable, a man, a wealthy landowner, is called to leave the country, but before he leaves, he gives each of his servants a considerable amount of money. He wants to make sure his money is making more money, even during his absence. The amounts he gives to each servant are different, but all receive a sizeable sum. He trusts them to work hard on his behalf. Two of those three servants choose to do what they were charged and use the money to make even more. When the man returns and finds they have done the right thing, he thanks them and richly rewards them. The third servant is different. He doesn’t work to make more money for the master. He reasons that if he buries the money and the master returns, he can just give the money back. Why should he go to all that hassle for someone else? Plus, if the master doesn’t return at all, the servant could just keep the money. No one would even know he had it. When the boss returns and finds the servant has done nothing with what was entrusted to him, he is angry and takes away what that servant has. The servant’s excuse is “I knew you to be a hard man, reaping where you did not sow, and gathering where you scattered no seed.” Basically, he complains that his boss expected too much from him. The third man is considered wicked, lazy, and worthless, and so is sentenced to judgment (v. 26, 30).

One day Jesus will “settle accounts” with us too (v. 19). What “talents” has God given you? Have you faithfully used them to build his kingdom? Are you sharing your talents with the church, or burying them for yourself? Do you feel like you don’t want to work for God’s kingdom while he is gone, or think he won’t really care when he comes back anyway? If so, stop thinking like that! If you are a Christian, you have been given resources you are expected to use for God’s glory. Don’t let laziness or selfishness drag you down to the place of the third servant. Use whatever God has given you to be faithful to him today, trusting that he will reward you greatly when he comes back.