Matthew 25:14-30 (The Parable of the Talents.)

"For it is as if a man, going on a journey, summoned his slaves and entrusted his property to them; to one he gave five talents, to another two, to another one, to each according to his ability. Then he went away. 

The one who had received the five talents went off at once and traded with them, and made five more talents. In the same way, the one who had the two talents made two more talents. But the one who had received the one talent went off and dug a hole in the ground and hid his master's money.

After a long time the master of those slaves came and settled accounts with them. Then the one who had received the five talents came forward, bringing five more talents, saying, 'Master, you handed over to me five talents; see, I have made five more talents.' His master said to him, 'Well done, good and trustworthy slave; you have been trustworthy in a few things, I will put you in charge of many things; enter into the joy of your master.' And the one with the two talents also came forward, saying, 'Master, you handed over to me two talents; see, I have made two more talents.' His master said to him, 'Well done, good and trustworthy slave; you have been trustworthy in a few things, I will put you in charge of many things; enter into the joy of your master.' Then the one who had received the one talent also came forward, saying, 'Master, I knew that you were a harsh man, reaping where you did not sow, and gathering where you did not scatter seed; so I was afraid, and I went and hid your talent in the ground. Here you have what is yours.' But his master replied, 'You wicked and lazy slave! You knew, did you, that I reap where I did not sow, and gather where I did not scatter? Then you ought to have invested my money with the bankers, and on my return I would have received what was my own with interest. So take the talent from him, and give it to the one with the ten talents. For to all those who have, more will be given, and they will have an abundance; but from those who have nothing, even what they have will be taken away. As for this worthless slave, throw him into the outer darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.'"

As I read the Parable of the Talents, an image of our dog, Lottie, came to mind. On very rare occasions when she is in trouble she scurries off to her basket with her tail between her legs. Some people in the crowd must have scurried off in similar fashion after Jesus’ blistering attack on them. Who were these wretched people represented by the servant with one talent? 

On first reading the parable of the talents seems very harsh on the poor servant who didn’t invest his master’s ‘talent’ (talent being a sum of money). He hides what was entrusted to him in the ground, and eventually returns it intact. Especially in the present climate holding onto your initial investment seems quite an achievement. In contrast, the first two servants seem to have been reckless with the five and two talents entrusted to them. As we try to put a positive spin in the parable we might suggest that the moral of the story is ‘nothing venture, nothing gained’. That seems fair enough, but it is hardly earth shattering teaching. It certainly doesn’t explain the very harsh punishment meted out to the third servant. 

In order to get closer to the truth we need to make an assumption based on what we know about Jesus. We know that he was kind and caring towards the general populace, whereas he never pulled his punches when confronting the religious leaders of his time. The assumption I invite you to make is that the servant with the one talent represents the religious authorities. And what was their sin? Self-preservation.

The world has changed over 20 centuries, but a similar sin lurks. Imagine someone receiving a ‘bundle of faith’ from God early on in life. They then keep their faith to themselves; they don’t share it with their friends or family. What is more they never actively apply it to life. In this way they preserve it somewhere secret in their hearts, and there it remains untested, unchallenged, unrefined and unused. On the day of Judgement they stand before God. They stand, confident, because they have held onto their faith throughout their life. At the same time imagine God’s disappointment as he sees that ‘bundle of faith’ in its tired and original wrapping. 

In auctions vintage toys command a higher price if they are in pristine condition and in their original box. That highly prized toy, however, represents a sad story – a gift that was never appreciated and enjoyed. Faith is a gift. Let’s not envy those who have more. Instead, let us busy ourselves in unwrapping our gift, exploring it and using it. In an auction, if a ‘bundle of faith’ turned up that was scratched, dented and with bits missing I would put my hand up and bid for it. 

Lord God, we give you thanks for the gift of life that you bless us with each day. Help us to be channels of your grace through which you uphold and heal your world. We pray that each day we may journey with hope, and at the end of each day may we find contentment in knowing that our faith has been sufficient for all that has challenged us. Amen.

And now, as we pray a classic Celtic prayer, our hope is that what we pray for ourselves may also be true for those who now come to mind:

God to enfold me, God to surround me, God in my speaking, God in my thinking. God in my sleeping, God in my waking, God in my watching, God in my hoping. God in my life, God in my lips, God in my soul, God in my heart. God in my sufficing, God in my slumber, God in mine ever-living soul, God in mine eternity. Amen.

Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name, your kingdom come, your will be done on earth as in heaven. Give us today our daily bread. Forgive us our sins, as we forgive those who sin against us. Lead us not into temptation but deliver us from evil. For the kingdom, the power, and the glory are yours now and for ever. Amen.

(Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy Name; Thy kingdom come; Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us. And lead us not into temptation; but deliver us from evil: for thine is the kingdom, the power, and the glory, for ever and ever. Amen.)