Buried Talent

Jesus said, “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.’” Matthew 25:14-30 

I often struggle with this parable, as I know many people who have been given a talent or means and have faithfully tried to offer what they have only to be rebuffed, laughed at or ignored. It is what we as humans shrink from the most - getting up and doing our best then being ridiculed or shamed. Fear is the worst enemy of faith in my life. Life can feel too often like the gong show. And the fear of being rejected keeps many of us from offering something, offering more. 

Jesus is instructing his followers about how they are to live their lives when he is no longer around. They do not believe that is going to happen, so he has to be very descriptive, very direct about their behavior. Harsh in other words since they have been acting very dense. He wants us to hear as well. What we do with what we have been given is important. It is the work of faith. We humans don't like sticking our necks out or putting ourselves in the spotlight. Yet, what we have been given we must use. Our one pitiful little talent might save a life, redirect someone floundering and give hope to the hopeless. Our one little bit might just be the tipping point for enormous change.

Today, I ask God to help me use what I have despite my own fears and limitations. May we give what we got, knowing that God with use it for the healing and renewal of this world.