Like many other churches, Faith Church often talks about how following Jesus leads us to give of our “time, talents, and treasures.” There is a sense that the first of the three items – time – differs from the other two in that we all have the same amount of time each day (though different seasons of life may lead people to have different amounts of “free time”), while the talents and treasures of each person differ. Another interesting link between talents and treasures is that our use of the word “talent” actually emerges from imagery about treasures found in a parable of Jesus found in Matthew 25:14-30. Let’s explore that parable and then see what it might teach us about our use of talents and treasures.
The Parable of the Talents
Jesus tells this parable within a series of parables about being prepared for his return. In this parable, we hear about a man who is going on a journey and entrusts various amounts of his resources to three servants according to their ability while he is gone, with the term “talents” used to describe what is given. In the ancient world, talent was a financial term that signified a substantial amount. The exact measurement is a bit disputed (and may have shifted from time to time), but it would likely be around 6,000 days’ wages. This means that although the servants received differing amounts (5, 2, and 1, respectively), they all received a lot!
While the master of the servants did not tell them what to do with these talents, we see two of them use them to acquire more talents whereas the servant who received only one talent simply hides it in the ground (a common way of protecting money in the ancient world). We later find out that he did this out of fear and in spite of knowledge that the master was one who sought to gain more resources (potentially in shady ways). When the master returns, he praises and rewards the first two servants but punishes the one who did not seek to invest or grow the talent, as he could have at least sought to gain interest on that one talent. His talent is taken away and he is thrown into darkness.
The man giving these talents “according to ability” led to the word “talent” eventually becoming a word (likely around the 13th century) used to define a gift or a skill as opposed to a measurement of money. This connection, in part, happens as well because of the way the Apostle Paul describes the spiritual gifts that God gives in accordance with a measure of faith (Romans 12:3).
A common lesson from this parable is to help us think about gifts and abilities we might have – whether they are natural gifts or spiritual gifts that we receive as followers of Christ. I think this certainly is a way to apply it, but I also wonder if we might be able to apply it literally to how we think about the treasures we receive in light of the fact that Jesus uses this imagery as well.
Some Principles from the Talents
While we need to be careful not to over-interpret parables, as if every detail in the story points to some truth, I think there are a variety of principles that may emerge from this parable either directly or indirectly.
First and foremost, I couldn’t help but think about how this parable should move us from a perspective of scarcity to one of abundance when it comes to the “talents” God gives us. Another word besides talent could have been used (in fact, we see a similar story in Luke 19:1-10 that uses the term mina). If you feel your skills or abilities are less than others, you need to recognize the greatness of what God has given you. Perhaps we need to have the same approach when it comes to the financial gifts God has given us – especially if we are Americans, who are disproportionately rich. Instead of complaining about what God has not given, let’s recognize the abundance that God has given.
Second, He has given us “according to our ability.” Rather than complain that we don’t have as much as others, we should recognize God’s wisdom in how these talents are distributed. We have been given what is perfectly suited for us. When the master returns in the parable, his evaluation is not of the servants against each other. Instead, each is compared only against himself: the servant who received five talents was not praised more than the one with two talents, and the individual who was given a single talent was not rebuked for not producing as much as the one with two or five, but rather for not doing anything at all.
Third, we should remember that the talents (both the skills and the resources) we have are things we have been entrusted with. They do not belong to us – they belong to God and we should use them in accordance with His desires and wishes.
Fourth, we should recognize that these gifts have been given not for our own benefit, but for the good of the Master. This is where some of the imagery may break down – as the skills that God gives us does not produce new skills and our treasures don’t necessarily accumulate to new treasures. It is important to remember that this is a parable, which means it is an illustration and every illustration breaks down at some point. That said, I think this points to us knowing that what we have been given by God should be used to show His grace and goodness to the world. This means we should view the giving of our skills and financial resources as “investments” in the kingdom that promote God’s purposes. Giving of our talents should be used to show God’s name and glory to the world, not to impress Him or others. We can do that when we donate our money to be used for His purposes in the world, and when we serve out of the skills that God has given us. We invest the resources we have been given and see how they produce the things that God seeks in this world.
Fifth and finally, we will ultimately be judged for how we have invested and used the talents God has entrusted to us. While some may interpret this parable as a teaching that if we are faithful with what we have in life, we will see more and more opportunities coming forward, I don’t think that is the lesson from this parable (there are other places where they might be taught). Instead, it is about what happens when Jesus returns; the context highlights what it means to be faithfully waiting for his return.
This ”Parable of the Talents” reminds us to use the gifts that God has given us. If you have been hiding your talents – whether skills or money – to safeguard them, it’s not too late to change – start using them now to glorify God.
Questions about the Bible or theology? Email them to Pastor Brian at Theology@WeAreFaith.org. You can also request to receive weekly emails with our blog posts by filling out the information on the right side.
