Christ-followers should become more intentional with their time and master’s “talents.”

 I keep hearing Jesus' Parable of the Talents being preached a lot lately. Most Christians are familiar with the story, but what is it's meaning?

For those of you who may not be familiar with the parable here it is from Bible Gateway:

Matthew 25:14-30

The Parable of the Talents

14 “For it will be like a man going on a journey, who called his servants[a] and entrusted to them his property. 15 To one he gave five talents,[b] to another two, to another one, to each according to his ability. Then he went away. 16 He who had received the five talents went at once and traded with them, and he made five talents more. 17 So also he who had the two talents made two talents more. 18 But he who had received the one talent went and dug in the ground and hid his master's money. 19 Now after a long time the master of those servants came and settled accounts with them. 20 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.’ 21 His master said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant.[c] You have been faithful over a little; I will set you over much. Enter into the joy of your master.’ 22 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.’ 23 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.’ 24 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 scattered no seed, 25 so I was afraid, and I went and hid your talent in the ground. Here, you have what is yours.’ 26 But his master answered him, ‘You wicked and slothful servant! You knew that I reap where I have not sown and gather where I scattered no seed? 27 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. 28 So take the talent from him and give it to him who has the ten talents. 29 For to everyone who has will more be given, and he will have an abundance. But from the one who has not, even what he has will be taken away. 30 And cast the worthless servant into the outer darkness. In that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.’

I've heard this parable interpreted two ways. The first focuses on the fact that the story Jesus talked about centered around money and therefore Christians should make wise decisions with the money He has entrusted them with and tithe as directed. The second focuses on the word 'talent' and refers to the gifts that the Lord has given each person to forward His kingdom. Upon researching this article I found several examples of these varying interpretations online.

But what is a bilical 'talent' anyway?

Definition: A talent was a weight of 75 pounds of gold or silver, representing a very large sum of money.

So Jesus was indeed talking about money in the parable He told. 

When you look at the story a little deeper you will discover that both interpretations are true but like most of the stories Christ used to make a point there is more than initially meets the eye.

There is really good article by Joel Ryan over at Christianity.com that explains it this way:

Before Jesus ascended into heaven, he told his disciples, “If I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am” (John 14:3). But just because Jesus is physically absent from the earth, doesn’t mean his followers are given the freedom to sit back and do nothing.

Just like the master in the parable, Jesus has entrusted his servants with:

Spreading the gospel (Matthew 28:16-20); 

Forgiving those who have wronged them (Matthew 6:14-15).
Loving others (John 13:34-35); 

Caring for his church (John 21:17).
Being an example to the world (Matthew 14:13-16); 

Feeding the hungry and thirsty (Matthew 25:25).
Caring for the poor, the prisoner, and the sick (Matthew 25:36); Being hospitable to foreigners and outsiders (Matthew 25:35).

... Jesus has entrusted his followers with his greatest treasures, making them caretakers of his ministry and commissioned ambassadors of his mission. This is an incredible responsibility; one Christ-followers should take seriously.

 Ryan continues:

For the Christian, this can apply to their time, their money, their body, and even their abilities. A believer who sees these things as a borrowed investment belonging to God and needing to be returned will be motivated to treat them with care and intention.

One day the master will return, and when he does, he’ll want to know what we’ve done with this precious life we’ve been given. Were we good stewards of what belongs to him? Did we grow his investment?

Or did we bury our time, talent, and opportunities? It’s up to us to decide, but we better decide quickly. The master is planning his return and will be back at any moment.

You can read more of Joel Ryan's article at: https://www.christianity.com/wiki/jesus-christ/what-is-the-parable-of-the-talents.html 

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