The Parable Of The Talents

“I wanted to tell you a story…” The Kingdom of Heaven is like a man going on a journey. He called his servants and entrusted his property to them. To one he gave five talents, to another two,
and to another one-each according to his ability. Then he went on his journey.

The man who received five talents went at once and put his money to work-and gained five more.  The one with two talents also gained two more. But the man who had received one talent went off, dug a hole in the ground, and hid his master’s money. After a long time, the master of those servants returned to settle accounts. The one who had received five talents brought the other five and said, “Master, you entrusted me with five talents. Look, I’ve gained five more.”

His master replied, “Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things;  I will put you in charge of many things. Enter into the joy of your lord.”The one with two talents came and said, “Master, you entrusted me with two talents. Look, I’ve gained two more.” His master said the same: “Well done, good and faithful servant! You’ve been faithful with a few things;
I will put you over many. Enter into the joy of your lord.”

Then the man who had received one talent came and said, “Master, I knew you to be a hard man, reaping where you have not sown, and gathering where you have not scattered seed.So I was afraid, and I went and hid your talent in the ground. Look-here is what belongs to you.”But his master replied,”You wicked and lazy servant!You knew that I reap where I haven’t sown and gather where I haven’t scattered?

Then you should’ve at least put My money on deposit with the bankers, so that when I returned I would’ve received it back with interest. Take the talent from him and give it to the one who has ten.
For to everyone who has, more will be given, and he will have abundance. But from the one who has nothing, even what he has will be taken away.And cast that unprofitable servant into outer darkness-where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.” (This story is found in Matthew 25:14-30.)

“Let Me explain what this story means…”What I give you-your time, your gifts, your opportunities-isn’t meant to be buried.  It’s meant to be used for the Kingdom. You don’t need to compare what I’ve given you to what I’ve given someone else. I only ask for faithfulness with what you were given. But make no mistake: I will return. And I will ask for what you did with what I entrusted to you.

To those who are faithful-there is joy. To those who hide what they’ve been given-there is judgment.  So don’t bury what I gave you. Use it-because you were never meant to waste it.

“My parables matter because they reveal the Kingdom.” I didn’t speak these stories on My own. In John 12:49-50, I said: “For I have not spoken of Myself; but the Father which sent Me, He gave Me a commandment, what I should say, and what I should speak. And I know that His commandment is life everlasting: whatsoever I speak therefore, even as the Father said unto Me, so I speak.”

This story came from the Father-to show that your life is not your own. It’s a trust. A responsibility. A calling. And in Matthew 24:35, I said: “Heaven and earth shall pass away, but My words shall not pass away.” So remember: What you do with what I gave you-matters. Forever.