SECTION 11: THE PROPHECIES OF THE KING’S RETURN
CHAPTER 58
THE PARABLE OF THE TALENTS
OR
WELL DONE vs. wicked servant
Scripture To Consider:
“For the kingdom of heaven is like a man traveling to a far country, who called his own servants and delivered his goods to them. And to one he gave five talents, to another two, and to another one, to each according to his own ability; and immediately he went on a journey. Then he who had received the five talents went and traded with them, and made another five talents. And likewise he who had received two gained two more also. But he who had received one went and dug in the ground, and hid his lord’s money.”
“After a long time the lord of those servants came and settled accounts with them. So he who had received five talents came and brought five other talents, saying, ‘Lord, you delivered to me five talents; look, I have gained five more talents besides them.’ His lord said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant; you were faithful over a few things, I will make you ruler over many things. Enter into the joy of your lord.'”
“He also who had received two talents came and said, ‘Lord, you delivered to me two talents; look, I have gained two more talents besides them.’ His lord said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant; you have been faithful over a few things, I will make you ruler over many things. Enter into the joy of your lord.'”
“Then he who had received the one talent came and said, ‘Lord, I knew you to be a hard man, reaping where you have not sown, and gathering where you have not scattered seed. And I was afraid, and went and hid your talent in the ground. Look, there you have what is yours.'”
“But his lord answered and said to him, ‘You wicked and lazy servant, you knew that I reap where I have not sown, and gather where I have not scattered seed. Therefore, you ought to have deposited my money with the bankers, and at my coming I would have received back my own with interest. Therefore, take the talent from him, and give it to him who has ten talents. For to everyone who has, more will be given, and he will have abundance; but from him who does not have, even what he has will be taken away. And cast the unprofitable servant into outer darkness. There will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.'” Matthew 25.14-30
Something To Consider:
Jesus was still teaching His followers to be prepared for His coming. He was attempting to impress upon them their need of watchfulness. Watching, however, does not imply idleness. It suggests such glad anticipation as was symbolized by the faithful and wise servant who was looking for his lord’s return, and by such spiritual preparedness as was pictured by the wise virgin servants whose lamps were trimmed and burning. And yet, it further includes such faithful service as is pictured in this parable of the talents. Those who are faithful in their work are in a true sense watching for the coming of the King.
In this parable again, Jesus plainly teaches that there will be a long delay before He returns. He pictures Himself as a man who goes on a long journey into another country and who returns after a long time. In his absence, however, he entrusts his goods to his servants. To one he gives five talents, to another two, and to another one: to each according to his ability. The familiar teaching is that different followers of Christ are given both varying capacities and opportunities for serving Him.
It appears that in real life some with small capacity are given large opportunity, and some with large abilities are given limited opportunities. The real message of the parable is the need for faithfulness and the certainty of reward, however great or small the abilities or opportunities may be. This parable of the talents indicates that equal faithfulness, however limited the opportunities, ensures an equal reward.
On his return, in making his reckoning, the master addresses the same words to the servant whose talents gained another five, and to the servant whose two talents gained another two. According to Jesus, all who are faithful will hear, “Well done, good and faithful servant, you have been faithful over a few things, I will make you ruler over many things. Enter into the joy of your Lord.”
Something Else To Consider:
There is however, another and darker side to the picture Jesus has so effectively painted. It is possible for one to neglect his or her spiritual gift or refuse to use the resources granted to them by the Lord. It is possible for someone to refuse to develop his or her ability, and to waste his or her opportunity for service. This is the special temptation of those who feel their place in life is obscure and that the possibilities for serving the Lord are small and insignificant.
It was the servant who received only one talent who went away and hid his talent in the earth. The hiding of talents is still an issue for many in this 21st century generation of church goers; but it does not need to continue until it is too late to prove oneself faithful. Serving the Lord is an earthly pleasure unmatched by any other occupation, career, or adventure. And the rewards are forever eternal!
The excuse which the unfaithful servant offered to his master on his return was foolish and condemned himself. He declared that he feared the severity of his master. He showed that he had no conception of the true character of his lord. It is sometimes true that those who have small ability neglect their opportunities for service, because they do not realize the grace and kindness of the Lord who with every talent grants grace for its proper use and never allows any real effort truly for Him to fail.
All Christ expects is that one does his or her best in the function of their service unto Him. For those who are timid and distrustful, or merely idle and indifferent, the picture in this parable is full of solemn warning. The talent is taken away and the servant is cast into outer darkness. It is a familiar truth that the neglect of a talent always results in its loss; while the wise use of gifts, abilities, and opportunities always results in their enlargement.
There is a subtle touch here in the statement that the talent which is taken from the wicked and lazy servant is given to the one who had ten talents. It is true that equal faithfulness receives an equal reward, but it requires more fidelity rightly to employ five talents than two. Greater responsibility creates greater opportunity.
It may therefore be possible however, for all the servants of the King to be so faithful to Him in the accomplishment of daily tasks, in the use of the simplest occasions for service, and in accomplishing the special work which Jesus may assign, that when He appears they may meet Him without fear and may receive His word of blessed assurance, “Well done, good and faithful servant.”
Something More To Consider:
Which will it be that we hear Jesus declare at the end of our life of service here on earth? Will it be, “Well done, good and faithful servant”, or will it be, “You wicked and lazy servant”? How many of us inwardly struggle with the thought of whether we have been faithful or wicked as it pertains to spiritual gifts, abilities, and or open-door opportunities in our service unto Christ and the kingdom of God? For some there is this wrestling match between thinking more highly of ourselves and our desire for humility when it concerns spiritual gifts. What will people think if I attempt to promote myself and a particular gift granted by God?
Many may argue that the biblical talents spoken of in our Scripture to consider is dealing with money and not talents, gifts, and abilities. And that is indeed true. But more times than not Jesus enlarged our thinking on so many levels and pertaining to so many issues. How many times did Jesus declare, “You have heard that it has been said, but I say…” And He then enlarged our thinking as it concerns murder, adultery, and who is our neighbor, and more. Jesus constantly enlarged our borders of biblical thinking!
Therefore, I firmly believe our first role in the process of enlarging our thinking as it pertains to becoming more faithful in our service to Christ and to others is to become aware of particular talents, gifts, or abilities bestowed upon us by God’s Holy Spirit. The second thing for us to consider is to work towards developing those gifts, abilities, and or talents.
Therefore, as we pray for guidance and divine direction, and continue to study to show ourselves approved unto God and not man, then the Holy Spirit will open the appropriate doors of opportunity in the use and function of such spiritual gifts in God’s timing. And while we await further instructions, we must remember that true spiritual fruit, like physical fruit, should never be forced fruit.
A Few Final Words:
Now as to the decision that must not be postponed. Think with me for a moment of the eternal ramifications of hearing Jesus proclaim, “You wicked and lazy servant”, followed by Jesus stating, “And cast the unprofitable servant into the outer darkness. There shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.” Now let us allow those statements to sink into our conscience. And in doing so, let us not become hearers only of the Word of God. Let us become and remain doers of the truth of God’s Word.
Human nature is to simply listen to the harsh reality of potential future events or end results of bad earthly decisions we make or postpone making. Wise spiritual decisions demand our undivided attention rather than a quiet sweeping under the proverbial carpet of conscience, never to truly impact our decision-making process. Our decisions we make today and every day, decides whether we will hear Jesus declare, “Well done, good and faithful servant…” vs. “You wicked and lazy servant…”
Either way, there will be no way to retract those eternity deciding fate-filled words! Once spoken by Jesus, those words will encompass all of eternity. Once spoken by Jesus, they cannot be rescinded through man-made negotiation, human deliberation, or silly human excuses foolishly offered.
In Closing:
As so often in courts of law across this nation on a daily basis; the presiding judge will finally declare, “Case Closed!” At that very moment punishment awaits the guilty. Let us never be found guilty of hiding our talent, abilities, or God-given spiritual gifts. Let our prayers for open doors of opportunity and our true willingness to faithfully serve be our spiritual defense in not being found guilty of hiding our talents.
Let’s Pray:
Our Father in heaven, thank You for the recording of and the preserving of the parable of the talents. Help us Father to be found willing to learn the lessons of a lifetime within this parable and other parables taught by Jesus. Keep us studying to show ourselves approved unto You Father so much so that we never hear those words of eternal condemnation, but rather hear our Lord and Savior Jesus proclaim in the future, “Well done good and faithful servant, you have been faithful over a few things, I will make you ruler over many things. Enter into the joy of your Lord.” In Him Always, Amen!
According to Jesus 