The Talents

For the kingdom of heaven is as a man travelling into a far country, who called his own servants, and delivered unto them his goods.

And unto one he gave five talents, to another two, and to another one; to every man according to his several ability; and straightway took his journey.

Then he that had received the five talents went and traded with the same, and made them other five talents.

And likewise he that had received two, he also gained other two.

But he that had received one went and digged in the earth, and hid his lord's money.

After a long time the lord of those servants cometh, and reckoneth with them.

And so he that had received five talents came and brought other five talents, saying, Lord, thou deliveredst unto me five talents: behold, I have gained beside them five talents more.

His lord said unto him, Well done, thou good and faithful servant: thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord.

He also that had received two talents came and said, Lord, thou deliveredst unto me two talents: behold, I have gained two other talents beside them.

His lord said unto him, Well done, good and faithful servant; thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord.

Then he which had received the one talent came and said, Lord, I knew thee that thou art an hard man, reaping where thou hast not sown, and gathering where thou hast not strawed:

And I was afraid, and went and hid thy talent in the earth: lo, there thou hast that is thine.

His lord answered and said unto him, Thou wicked and slothful servant, thou knewest that I reap where I sowed not, and gather where I have not strawed:

Thou oughtest therefore to have put my money to the exchangers, and then at my coming I should have received mine own with usury.

Take therefore the talent from him, and give it unto him which hath ten talents.

For unto every one that hath shall be given, and he shall have abundance: but from him that hath not shall be taken away even that which he hath.

And cast ye the unprofitable servant into outer darkness: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.

(Matthew 25:14-30)

In this parable, an employer dispenses money (the talent is a measure of weight, as well as money) to three employees. The unstated presumption of this story is that men and women are expected to be wise and fruitful with their gifts. The first two servants do just that-double their investment. The third, motivated perhaps more by his fear of failure and rejection than an eagerness to succeed, hides his one and only talent. The day of reckoning comes, the Master returns, and rewards and punishments are issued.

A "slothful" person is not only unproductive but also, like his namesake (the sloth), lazy, idle and uncaring, unwilling to work and contribute. The Parable of the Talents is one of the "parables of preparation" found in Matthew 25. It focuses on the need for persons to demonstrate ingenuity and resourcefulness with what they have been given if their lives are to be considered productive or worthwhile. Jesus' message is fairly clear: God expects his children to use what they have been given, to multiply personal talents or holdings or obligations of trust, to capitalize on our blessings. We are not judged according to the successes or failures of others, but rather according to how we cultivate the plot of ground apportioned to us, large or small. Just as there are no ordinary people, so there are no ordinary moments and no ordinary assignments; God expects us to give life our best shot.