Carl Witty
09/14/15
The parable of the talents, recorded in Mt. 25:13-30, is one of the most familiar of the parables of Jesus. This article will concentrate on lessons we may learn from the man who was given one talent. In the story, the talents (sums of money) were given to three men. One received five, another two, another one. The men receiving from their master five and two talents used their talents and were able during their lord’s long absence to actually double the original investment. For their diligent and faithful stewardship they are commended and rewarded. Each of the men, including the one-talent man, received talents “according to his several ability.”
The man who received one talent accepted his responsibility. He took his Master’s money; he was morally responsible for the use of it. All of the members at Gooch Lane are entrusted by God with at least one talent. Can you: visit, send cards, pray, encourage, strengthen, invite, grow gratitude, be hospitable … to others? Every Christian in the family here has unique talent(s) that will be useful in our Master’s service.
Our Maker knows His creation. In Paul’s reprimand toward the Corinthians (I Cor. 4), he reminds his beloved brethren of this principle in verse 7: “for who sees anything different in you? What do you have that you did not receive? If then you received it, why do you boast as if you did not receive it?” (ESV) A similar explanation is given in I Cor. 12:11 in describing the various spiritual gifts given to Christians in apostolic times: “All these are the work of one and the same spirit, and He gives them to each one just as He determines.” (NIV) God’s endowment of abilities comes with our entrance into this world. All would not remain equal; even if born so. We come to develop a diversity of use with the opportunities that are present in our lives, and therefore talents develop, increase, and diversify. We should not be discouraged by present limitations. Jesus taught (Lk. 16:10) that: “He that is faithful in that which is least is faithful also in much: and he that is unjust in the least is unjust also in much.” God shows the same care in making an atom as in making a star. All we are and have is a gift from God. Let us in humble gratitude give our best to the Master.
The one talent man did not use what he had. If he had used it, there is every reason to believe that it would have grown and that other talents may have developed. He hid his Lord’s money in the ground. It was given him to use, not hide. It is tragic to think of all the buried talent in the church. God sees not only as we are, but His view includes what we might become and what we might accomplish with the exercise of our talents. May be humbly ask our loving Father in our daily prayers for the fulfillment of His will in us!
As is often the case, the one talent man blamed someone else for his failure. When called to the day of reckoning, he had his alibi ready. He accused his master of being a hard man to serve, causing him to be afraid and to hide his talent. The master responded by saying that the servant’s excuse established his guilt. Even if the master had been a cruel and demanding person, the servant could have deposited the money where it would earn interest! So often, we betray our own guilt and shortcomings by our excuses. We will answer for ourselves in the day of reckoning.
There is another eternal principle to be learned from the one talent man. He proved himself unworthy and therefore lost the talent he had. The fish within the streams inside mammoth cave in Kentucky have no sight. The process of atrophy has taken place. Similarly, we lose that which we do not use over time. Two of those man were given entrance into the “joy of the Lord”, the third man was cast out into “outer darkness: there shall we weeping and gnashing of teeth.” The failure to use this talent meant that he would be lost eternally!
God holds us accountable for what we can do. Let us honestly look at our talents and opportunities, and prayerfully yield ourselves to the Master’s use. This is the path to a fulfilled life and joy here and hereafter.
The words of an old song encourage us to:
“Give of your best to the Master; Give Him first place in your heart; Give Him first place in your service; consecrate every part. Give, and to you shall be given; God His beloved Son gave; Gratefully seeking to serve Him, Give Him the best that you have.”