Matthew 25:14-30
Jesus told his disciples this parable: “A man going on a journey called in his servants and entrusted his possessions to them. To one he gave five talents; to another, two; to a third, one–to each according to his ability. Then he went away.
Immediately the one who received five talents went and traded with them, and made another five. Likewise, the one who received two made another two. But the man who received one went off and dug a hole in the ground and buried his master’s money.
“After a long time the master of those servants came back and settled accounts with them. The one who had received five talents came forward bringing the additional five. He said, ‘Master, you gave me five talents. See, I have made five more.’
His master said to him, ‘Well done, my good and faithful servant. Since you were faithful in small matters, I will give you great responsibilities. Come, share your master’s joy.’
Then the one who had received two talents also came forward and said, ‘Master, you gave me two talents. See, I have made two more.’
His master said to him, ‘Well done, my good and faithful servant. Since you were faithful in small matters, I will give you great responsibilities. Come, share your master’s joy.’
Then the one who had received the one talent came forward and said, ‘Master, I knew you were a demanding person, harvesting where you did not plant and gathering where you did not scatter; so out of fear I went off and buried your talent in the ground. Here it is back.’
His master said to him in reply, ‘You wicked, lazy servant! So you knew that I harvest where I did not plant and gather where I did not scatter? Should you not then have put my money in the bank so that I could have got it back with interest on my return?
‘Now then! Take the talent from him and give it to the one with ten. For to everyone who has, more will be given and he will grow rich; but from the one who has not, even what he has will be taken away. And throw this useless servant into the darkness outside, where there will be wailing and grinding of teeth.'”
BACKGROUNDER
Our human accountability may be to our family, to care for and to love them. If we work or study, we are accountable to employers or teachers. Citizens are accountable to each other for the well-being of our communities. Christians acknowledge a specific accountability to God.
Jesus tells of a ruler who is going on a journey who entrusts his wealth to three servants. They know there will be a day of reckoning, when the master will settle his accounts. While he is away, the servants need to grow the treasure so that the master will benefit from their stewardship.
Jesus is telling his disciples that they will be held accountable. When they face him, and he will ask them how they did. God grants us each a measure of grace. And this offer of grace entails a response on our part. We are stewards of God’s mysteries, in Paul’s words (?????).
The servant who is given the one talent responds with fear. Such a person hides what should be shared, so that it contributes no growth in the kingdom. Trusting Jesus is an adventure, because he leads us into places where we may feel uncomfortable: that is the only way to grow.
We also need to avoid envy of other Christians. Some may have more or less giftedness, but that doesn’t matter to God. Both the servant who gets five and the one who gets two are rewarded. God expects us all to multiply his gifts.
We should also notice that even the servants who are rewarded are given more responsibilities. As the kingdom of God grows, we will have more to do for the master. The reward for spiritual profit is even greater trust in us.
Jesus tells us this story because one day he will settle accounts with us. However little or much we have been given, all is to be offered for the sake of his kingdom.