Matthew 25:14-21 – Parable of the Talents

“For it will be like a man going on a journey, who called his servants and entrusted to them his property. To one he gave five talents, to another two, to another one, to each according to his ability. Then he went away. He who had received the five talents went at once and traded with them, and he made five talents more. So also he who had the two talents made two talents more. But he who had received the one talent went and dug in the ground and hid his master’s money. Now after a long time the master of those servants came and settled accounts with them. And he who had received the five talents came forward, bringing five talents more, saying, ‘Master, you delivered to me five talents; here I have made five talents more.’ His master said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant. You have been faithful over a little; I will set you over much. Enter into the joy of your master.’

Matthew 25:14-21, ESV

In this parable, Jesus describes how a wealthy master entrusted a significant amount of his property to three of His servants.

A talent was worth about twenty years’ wages for a common laborer (so this was serious money!).

And although each servant was given a different amount, they were given the same task: invest the treasure they’d been entrusted with.

We can often become overwhelmed with the idea of joining God in His kingdom plan.

We see titanic issues around the world and in our own communities. We can also compare ourselves to others who appear to be accomplishing big tasks for God.

Unfortunately, we can often miss the significant opportunities He already entrusts to us every day.

• specific relationships we need to invest in more.
• obvious spiritual, physical, and social needs in our communities.
• talents and abilities that we need to use to make a difference.

Jesus challenges us to courageously move forward with what God has already entrusted to us, then He will give us more.

The first step of this is realizing that where we are and what we have has been entrusted to us by God and should be invested in for His glory. No matter how small you think a relationship is, God expects you to be a good steward of it.

This can seem like a daunting task, but can also be the most rewarding as we hear, “Well done, good and faithful servant.”

Take a few minutes to ask God to open your eyes to relationships, opportunities, and abilities which you may not recognize.