Life Endowments
So then, each of us will give an account of ourselves to God.
Romans 14:12
We have all been given some capacity to invest in the kingdom of God, and we will all give an account for our stewardship. Jesus teaches this principle in Matthew 25:14-30. In this parable, a man was going on a journey and gave his servants talents to invest. To the first he gave five talents, to the second he gave two talents, and to the third he gave one talent. They would be rewarded according to their ability (see verses 14-15).
The first and second servants doubled their investment, but the servant who received one talent buried it in the ground. When the master returned, he praised the two servants who had wisely invested their talents and put them in charge of greater things. They also got to share in their master’s happiness (see verses 19-23).
This is an important principle for those who wish to grow in grace and expand their ministry. When God finds us faithful in the little things, He puts us in charge of greater things. We get out of life what we invest in it.
The man who was given one talent only had excuses. He didn’t invest his talent because he felt that his master was a hard man who reaped where he did not sow (see verses 24-25). He reasoned, My master probably isn’t coming back anyway. His perception of his master was wrong, and his failure to invest what had been entrusted to him cost him dearly (see verse 30). The master said, “You knew that I reap where I did not sow and gather where I scattered no seed. Then you ought to have put my money in the bank, and on my arrival I would have received my money back with interest” (verses 26-27, NASB).
A one-talented Christian may think that his one talent is not important, but if it were not for the one-talented Christians in our world, not much would be accomplished. The servant’s one talent in the parable could have increased to two and brought glory to God. The parable of the talents teaches us to be faithful with whatever gifts or talents God has given us. This is not to be confused with the parable of the pounds in Luke 19:11-27, where each servant was given an amount equal to three month’s pay but received a different reward. In the parable of the talents, the servants received different amounts but the same reward. What is important is not how much ability or opportunity you have but how faithful you are to use what you have been entrusted.
There are two types of people who will never realize their potential: those who won’t do what they are told and those who won’t do anything unless they are told. You may not have any outstanding gifts or talents, but what you have you can put to good use. A timely word or act of kindness will pay future dividends. You may not lead many to Christ, but you may lead one who later leads many. In the end, God will judge you fairly according to your ability. “From everyone who has been given much, much will be demanded; and from the one who has been entrusted with much, much more will be asked” (Luke 12:48).
questions to consider:
In the parable of the talents, why does the master praise his first two servants? What does this tell us about how God expects us to use His gifts and talents?
Why didn’t the servant with the one talent invest his gift? What was the result of his mismanagement of his master’s money?
What two types of people will never reach their potential? What limits them?
Why is it so important to recognize what you have been entrusted and then use it to the glory of God?
Can you expect to be entrusted with bigger things if you have not shown yourself to be faithful in little things? Why or why not?