Matthew 25:14-30 are the verses that share Jesus’ parable of the talents. I’m told that in Biblical times a talent was a monetary unit worth approximately a year’s wages for a servant. (I’m not a Biblical expert, so don’t ask me what kind of servant, or in which country or any of the other technical questions you might have thought of as you read my explanation. In the end, it doesn’t matter in the least to the outcome or understanding of the story, so let’s just skip all that and get on with it.)

The modern definition of talent according to Google is a natural aptitude or skill. In the parable there are three servants. Each servant is given a portion of money by his master just before the master sets off on a long trip. The master doesn’t leave instructions as to what he wishes done with the money. He doesn’t tell the servants when he will return. He just hands over the money and takes off.

The scripture says that each servant was given an amount of money in accordance to his abilities. We can assume that the master knew these servants well. They had most likely been in his employ or perhaps were even his slaves for quite a long time. This insinuates that each knew the master’s ways and expectations.

Many people focus on the servants who invested the money and returned double to the master, but what about the one who hid the money out of fear? Was he intimidated or angered that he only received a small portion in relation to the other servants. Did he read judgment in the dispersing of coins? Did he allow Satan’s whispered, “You’re not as good as they are” to penetrate his heart?

The master called him to a task. He shrank from it. He allowed fear of his lack of ability or of his failure to rule him. He did not take what little he had and do as much as he could with it. Instead, he secreted away what small talent he was given; he buried it, denying his master’s call to action. As a result, he was deemed lazy and good for nothing. His little was stripped away and given to the one who had much, but who had risked his much to make more. The one who obeyed.

We must guard against Satan’s attempts to make us hide our talents. The Master calls us to do certain things. We must heed His call and use what we’ve been given to increase our gifts that we may return them doubled when He returns.

Remember, fear is not our master. The risen Christ is. He has overcome, through His sacrificial death on the Cross, all the world can throw at us. Fear is a chain we must allow Jesus to sever, then leave behind as we draw closer to Him.

There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love.

1 John 4:18 NIV

What the Master calls us to do, we must do. He will equip us for our task if we move forward in obedience.

How are you using the talents entrusted to you by the Master? Please comment, like and follow this blog if you enjoy reading the content. Comment on topics you would like to see me write about as well. Thank you for reading. I’d love to connect with you!