On Talents
Matthew 25:14-29
Can you imagine just burying the money in the ground? But why would he do it?Think of sneaking out in the dead of night - so no-one would see you, checking over your shoulder, working in the dark - not using a flash light, trying to not make a sound, and digging a hole to hide this huge pile of gold.
As the master says, at the very least he could have invested it with the money changers and gotten interest! That third servant just buried it in the ground, hid it away, kept it safe, played it safe.
What would you do?
Imagine, your boss comes and gives you 5 talents, and says invest this while I am gone…. and then without any further instruction he-is-gone, and stays away for a long time!
Of course we aren't just talking about talking about loose pocket change. Do any of you know how much a talent weighed? Or what it was worth?
It weighed about 75 lbs, and would be worth more than many could expect to ever see in one place. A talent was worth about between 15 and 20 years wages.
Imagine, your boss comes and hands you a cheque for more money than you will make in your entire career, hundreds of thousands of dollars, millions, and then leaves without telling you what to do with it exactly.
Just says invest it well, and then zap, he's gone.
What would you do?
This could be scary, couldn't it? Banks with federal insurance weren't available in those days. Nope, no sure savings accounts with a guaranteed yield. Not even any blue chip stocks. What to do?
Maybe he decision to hide it in the ground doesn't seem quite so far fetched. I mean if you believe the third servant this isn't a boss to fool around with. He has high expectations, and you aren't likely to be able to pull the wool over this boss's eyes. You know, there's a saying that you shouldn't invest what you can't afford to loose. And we're talking a LOT of money here. It's not even yours!
Maybe the sure way, the safe way isn't such a bad idea. Play it safe.
But what does this parable say about it?
It doesn't exactly say play it safe does it. It says take the cash, that huge heap of it and invest it, use it, work it, make a return, a big return with it!
IT says risk it ALL!
Now do you think that Jesus was only talking about money when he was telling this parable? Saying that servants should invest and make a return when given money? Maybe, but I'd have to say I don't think so. Jesus put so much into his stories didn't he. What else could Jesus be talking about…
This story is one that would have made a great impression on the religious leaders of the time of Jesus wouldn't it? Maybe Jesus was talking about the gift of the Father to Israel in choosing them, and the nations failure to do ANYTHING with it. If Jesus was talking about more than money, then THEY sure would have heard a LOUD condemnation, in this story! Man, not a message they would have wanted to hear.
Are there other ways we can hear this story today? Is Jesus just saying to us invest and make a return when given money? And maybe, man did those Isrealites blow it?
I've often heard people talk about "talents" in the sense of all our gifts from God. That might be it….
What gifts are we given, and what are we expected to do with them? Well, often the answer is use them…but it seems to me that the parable is setting pretty high standards in this, saying a little more than just use them.
We are to double our stake! Not to make a steady income, but to risk and win big. To work and double our investment so to speak. It's worth noticing too that Jesus is not saying just buy lottery tickets, or gamble and hope for the best either, he is saying work with, be involved in it, earn a return.
SO the image of carefully plodding along, doing our duty, one step at a time, not getting excited, isn't the image in this parable is it.
NOPE.
It's more like, sitting on the edge of your seat, sweating, hair all standing on end, working hard, risking it all, for a big return. The good and faithful servant set about to invest immediately, and he SOON doubled his master's investment!
If we listen, listen carefully, I think we can hear encouragement from Jesus… , Go for it, jump in, get at it, take my gift to you, and go for the gusto?
What would you do with this gift?
It's not really just a rhetorical question either is it… Isreal isn't the only people given a valuable gift by God?. ….what would you do with this wealth….what will we do with this wealth.
Because it's not only about money. Not only about cash. But it is about things of great value….
We have been entrusted with a great gift from Jesus haven't we? Jesus came to earth and died for us. He gave us an amazing and wonderful gift in the shape of himself.
He died for us, and he invites us all into communion with him. To live for the Kingdom, for now and forever. Not exactly a small thing….
What am I doing with this gift, what are you doing with this gift? Are we burying it in fear, in silence, in the dark without even a flashlight, in the dead of night, ……or are we risking it, multiplying it?
It takes a big step of faith doesn't it, not to be afraid, not to hide ourselves away, to not play it safe.
We are given so much, and we are entrusted with so much,…… with the Kingdom of God. We are Jesus feet and his hands and his eyes, and his heart in the world today. Its scary, and its awesome.
How can we even consider risk when the stakes are this big? You know, I'm the type that really likes to play it safe. To make sure that I know which way the wind is blowing before I commit myself.
And reaching out to others is risky isn't it? Loving others is risky. Caring for each other, and being vulnerable is scary. Imagine talking to someone about your faith, inviting them into your home for a meal, inviting them to church…now that's risk!
Of course, there is a big difference between us, and those servants Jesus was talking about isn't there. The servants were left alone to do the masters bidding. --But we aren't are we. We may feel alone sometimes, and I think Jesus is recognizing this in the parable, but we aren't are we. We are in a group, in a family of believers aren't we, and we have the Holy Spirit here to help us too.
Praise the Lord, Jesus is here with us, to encourage us and to lead us. He's right there with us every step of the way. All we have to do is ask for help, and ask him to lead us.
Can you feel Jesus standing with you? Is he is saying go for it Steve, go for it________, go for it ________, go for it everyone.
Jump in, right over your head. Love, Care, ... Multiply the kingdom… Be fruitful. The great thing is that this is what we were made for, this is how we can be complete, this is how we can be fulfilled.
Take risks, and expect a return on love. People often just can't do that on their own can they? But with Jesus and the Spirit's help we can and we do. In the words of the parable, lets get on with it, let us enter into the joy, of the Master.
Take risks, and expect a return on Jesus Love.
In the name of the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit, Amen
©2003 Steve E. Timpson
(613) 272-2360
P.O. Box 69
2764 Highway 15, Portland, Ontario
stimpson@ontario.anglican.ca