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“For it will be as when a man going on a journey 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.

And he also who had the two talents came forward, saying, ‘Master, you delivered to me two talents; here I have made two 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.

 He also who had received the one talent came forward, saying, ‘Master, I knew you to be a hard man, reaping where you did not sow, and gathering where you did not winnow; so I was afraid, and I went and hid your talent in the ground. Here you have what is yours.’ But his master answered him, ‘You wicked and slothful servant! You knew that I reap where I have not sowed, and gather where I have not winnowed? Then you ought to have invested my money with the bankers, and at my coming I should have received what was my own with interest. So take the talent from him, and give it to him who has the ten talents.

For to every one who has will more be given, and he will have abundance; but from him who has not, even what he has will be taken away. And cast the worthless servant into the outer darkness; there men will weep and gnash their teeth.’

In this parable, talent refers to the largest measurement of money, which is measured in terms of weight. According to available information, each talent approximately weighs 34 kilos. During those times, an ordinary person has to work everyday for 20 years to earn 1 talent and if converted today, 1 talent would be approximately half a million dollars.

 Let us discover the characteristics of a talent in order to understand the Jesus message through this parable. The opening verse mentioned that a man going on a journey called his servants and entrusted to them his property. Talent is God’s property, something that God gives and God controls. It is not just distributed to anyone like natural gifts but to the servant who has a relationship with the master. In the second verse, talent was distributed according to each of the servant’s abilities. Therefore talent does not refer to a natural ability but rather, it is something that is given based on the natural ability. Third, talent is something that can be invested because the master expects a return. Thus it involves a risk of generating gain or loss and the decision to take the risk lies in the servant. Nevertheless, each servant is expected to do something with the talent received. Fourth, the investment is made for the benefit of the absent master. It is not give to the servant for his own use because it is the master’s property; the profit belongs to the master.

Now we understand that talent does not refer to a servant’s natural ability, it is something that is given according to his natural ability. Talents are opportunities that God gives to every Christian – opportunities of great value, opportunities to use God’s gift of life and salvation. Each Christian has the responsibility to use them, and using them involves the risk of gain or loss.

There are three kinds of servants who received the talent. The first and second servant must have felt great and excited that their master entrusted them with such huge amount, so that their immediate reaction was to go out and put the talent to work. What about the third servant? Is he really lazy and wicked? Or was he afraid to carry such big responsibility? Or does not know what to do with it? Does he really understand his role as a servant, which is to serve and do works for his master?

When the Master returned, the three servants were made accountable for the talents given to them. An accounting of how the talent was invested, how much gain they made. The first servant made full use of the opportunities given to him thus he made 100% profit. And so does the second servant. And the master’s reward - ‘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.’ It is the eternal joy of the Lord (Hebrews 12:2)! And to the third servant, there was a punishment - a harsh consequence for a wasted opportunity. The master was disappointed because the servant did not realize the value of talent entrusted to him.

Christians should recognize the opportunities from God. Step out and take the risk - for God’s gain. This is the way to find life and to watch for God’s coming. 

References: Matthew 25:14-30, RBC Ministries Discover the Word Series, R.Stedman’s Living Danger

(This was the Bible Study lesson shared by Efrelyn on June 22nd at the Cousart residence.)