Matthew 25:14-30 Amplified
[source: Biblegateway.com]
14 “For it is just like a man who was about to take a journey, and he called his servants together and entrusted them with his possessions. 15 To one he gave five [a]talents, to another, two, and to another, one, each according to his own ability; and then he went on his journey. 16 The one who had received the five talents went at once and traded with them, and he [made a profit and] gained five more. 17 Likewise the one who had two [made a profit and] gained two more. 18 But the one who had received the one went and dug a hole in the ground and hid his master’s money.
19 “Now after a long time the master of those servants returned and settled accounts with them. 20 And the one who had received the five talents came and brought him five more, saying, ‘Master, you entrusted to me five talents. See, I have [made a profit and] gained five more talents.’ 21 His master said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant. You have been faithful and trustworthy over a little, I will put you in charge of many things; share in the joy of your master.’
22 “Also the one who had the two talents came forward, saying, ‘Master, you entrusted two talents to me. See, I have [made a profit and] gained two more talents.’ 23 His master said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant. You have been faithful and trustworthy over a little, I will put you in charge of many things; share in the joy of your master.’
24 “The one who had received one talent also came forward, saying, ‘Master, I knew you to be a harsh and demanding man, reaping [the harvest] where you did not sow and gathering where you did not scatter seed. 25 So I was afraid [to lose the talent], and I went and hid your talent in the ground. See, you have what is your own.’
26 “But his master answered him, ‘You wicked, lazy servant, you knew that I reap [the harvest] where I did not sow and gather where I did not scatter seed. 27 Then you ought to have put my money with the bankers, and at my return I would have received my money back with interest. 28 So take the talent away from him, and give it to the one who has the ten talents.’
29 “For to everyone who has [and values his blessings and gifts from God, and has used them wisely], more will be given, and [he will be richly supplied so that] he will have an abundance; but from the one who does not have [because he has ignored or disregarded his blessings and gifts from God], even what he does have will be taken away. 30 And throw out the worthless servant into the outer darkness; in that place [of grief and torment] there will be weeping [over sorrow and pain] and grinding of teeth [over distress and anger].
written by Dan Kaskubar
is the pastor of Business and Mission at Hope Community Church in Denver.
[source: Denver Institute for Faith and Work]
In Matthew 25.14-30, Jesus tells a story of a rich master who entrusts his wealth to three servants while he goes away on a long journey. While he is gone, two of the servants double the value of what they’ve received. The third servant buries the wealth he’s entrusted with, and earns no return on it. The rich master rewards the first two servants, saying, “Well done, good and faithful servant. You have been faithful over a little; I will set you over much.” But the third servant receives the brunt of the master’s anger, “‘You wicked and slothful servant! …you ought to have invested my money with the bankers, and at my coming I should have received what was my own with interest.’ And [he] cast the worthless servant into the outer darkness.” He gives the third servant’s entrusted wealth to the first servant, declaring, “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. ”
This parable is where we get our modern word, “talent,” meaning skill or special natural ability. But in Jesus’ time, a talent was simply a coin, equal to 20 years’ wages of a laborer. One talent is today’s equivalent of somewhere between $500,000 and $1,000,000.
Jesus’ message is clear: we are stewards in God’s image, and each of us has been given enough to generate tremendous value! We are to interpret the man on a journey as Jesus himself, since he’s describing an interim period just like the age directly after his death, resurrection, and ascension. Through this series of events, we are empowered through his spirit in a way far beyond any other period in history, because we’re literally tapping into the resources of heaven to accomplish heaven’s goals through our work.
Now what’s also clear from the parable is that the first two servants were involving themselves with business ventures in order to make money. The implication is that in order to bear any kind of spiritual fruit, there must be activity, risk, courage, and diligence, with whatever we are entrusted. Jesus is taking simple business principles and applying them to his Kingdom reign.
Richard Pratt puts it this way in his book Designed for Dignity:
“The great King has summoned each of us into his throne room. Take this portion of my kingdom, he says, I am making you my steward over your office, your workbench, your kitchen stove. Put your heart into mastering this part of my world. Get it in order; unearth its treasures; do all you can with it. Then everyone will see what a glorious King I am. That’s why we get up every morning and go to work. We don’t labor simply to survive, insects do that. Our work is an honor, a privileged commission from our great King. God has given each of us a portion of his kingdom to explore and to develop to its fullness.”
Hugh Whelchel, in How Then Should We Work, says this, “God creates something out of nothing, and makes us in his image, so that we can make something out of something.” That something, is whatever God gives us. In the form of abilities, yes, (after all, this is the exact text where we derive our word “talent”), but it’s not just that! This includes family connections, social positions, education, and experiences, and also our very being, our life, every single breath, every opportunity and interaction he puts in front of us on a day-to-day basis! All of these things are gifts from God, to be used for Him in service to others. God entrusts us with our self, with all of our life. Each one of us is the most significant capital investment we will ever have, and it’s an investment directly from God himself, made out of his 6 days of labor, to be used to bless and care for all of the other capital investments out there, that is, the rest of the world. According to scripture, the earth’s most precious and valuable resource is its people.
Tim Keller, in The Reason for God, states:
“No matter who performs it, every act of goodness, wisdom, justice, and beauty is empowered by God. God gives out good gifts of wisdom, talent, beauty, and skill “graciously” – that is, in a completely unmerited way. He casts them across all humanity, regardless of religious conviction, race, gender, or any other attribute to enrich, brighten, and preserve the world.”
We are God’s capital investment. If we believe this, we can connect the significance of our work to God’s creative work.
If we believe we are God’s capital investment, we can lead well, we can lead up the ranks of our workplaces, we can change our companies, and we can change our cities, our culture, and the global marketplace for the glory of God.
If we believe we are God’s capital investment, we can accept the height of our dignity in representing and extending the authority of the King of the Universe; we can accept our identity as children, and therefore Princes and Princesses, Dukes and Duchesses of the King.
If we believe we are God’s capital investment, we celebrate more than anyone when his common grace breaks through and we can be in awe of a particular achievement, because we know it is all due to what He’s given us!
If we believe we are God’s capital investment, we can be co-workers with God who carry out God’s mission in the world. And we can have fun doing it, knowing it’s all a gift.
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