Read: Matthew 25:14–30
To one he gave five talents, to another two, to another one. Matthew 25:15
The parable of the talents is as haunting as it is inspiring. Three men are said to have been given a specified number of talents—five, two, and one. A talent was worth the modern day equivalent of approximately $300,000. Therefore, the men were given $1,500,000, $600,000, and $300,000 respectively by their master. The first two men invested their talents, both doubling their master’s money, while the man with one talent buried the $300,000 in the back yard for fear of losing it. The first two men were praised by their master and given a promotion, while the man who hid his talent had everything taken away from him.
God gives us talents, abilities, and natural gifts. We don’t all have the same number of gifts. Some people possess an extraordinary array of abilities while others’ talents are more modest in number—but everyone receives something from God. When we invest our talents in the world, God smiles on us; when we bury and hide our talents, God’s countenance is filled with displeasure. Interestingly, it doesn’t matter to God how much you have increased your talents; all God wants to see is that you are investing them and not putting them in a hole in the backyard where no one will ever benefit from them. God has given you talent—your job is to make the most of it!
Is there a buried talent in your life that you need to start investing and using to the glory of God?
Lord, for some reason I hold back from making the most of all that You have given me. I am tempted to play it safe rather than invest my life for all it is worth. Help me to take risks in faith daily, instead of burying the gifts You have given me until they are forgotten and lost. In Your name, I pray. AMEN.