By Rev. Canon David B. Tabo-oy
v29For to every person who has something, even more will be given, and he will have more than enough; but the person who has nothing, even the little that he has will be taken away from him. v30As for this useless servant—throw him outside in the darkness; there he will cry and gnash his teeth.’ (Read: Matthew 25:14-30)
I’m sure that most of us have been following the reality show “Pilipinas Got Talent” (until the TV home station of the show was ordered to close). The amateurs show their talents of dancing, singing, comedy and novelty acts to celebrity judges and a nationwide audience in order to advance in the competition and win a huge prize. The gospel parable lesson this Sunday is popularly known as the Parable of the Talents. According to one Bible Commentary this parable as reported by Matthew has some powerful images that have influenced our thinking and our language profoundly. The word talanto (singular) and talanta (plural) in the koine Greek (the Greek of the New Testament writers), represented, according to scholars, fifteen years’ wages of one person’s labor. Somewhere else it says that it was worth $1,000 (about 50,000 pesos). So, for his time, Jesus uses an exorbitant amount to denote the gift of the master to his servants. Throughout the centuries the meaning of the word talent has taken on attributes of ability and giftedness, concepts fully justified by this story. The servants had done nothing special to deserve this much money; it was given to them freely. Talent is given to people without any prior activity that shows they deserved it. We describe wonderful singers, writers, actors, or painters as “people of talent.” “Oh,” we say when we hear a lovely voice, “she is very talented!” Or, when someone doesn’t measure up, we say with regret, “He never lived up to his talent.”
***
Jesus used another parable to further illustrate the Kingdom of Heaven. He told a story of a wealthy landowner who was preparing for a long journey. He called his three servants and divided his money between them, each according to their ability. To one servant he gave five talents, meaning a sum of money, to a second two, and to a third one. Why is life like that? I don’t know. We are all equal in the eyes of God. We are all supposedly guaranteed equal rights under the Philippine Constitution. In an election our votes are all equal. But when it comes to our abilities, we are as different as different can be. God simply did not make us all the same. There are some people who can handle five talents; there are some who can handle only one. There are some persons who have great intellectual capabilities, and some who do not. There are some who have the ability to project and articulate their thoughts, and there are some who cannot. There are some who have physical prowess and attractive looks, and there are some who do not.
***
God does not endow people with identical or necessarily equal gifts. If you do as well as you can with the gifts given to you by God, you will hear his “Well done.” Not only the gifts, but also the people have equal worth. At the same time, the parable ends with the talent taken from the third servant being given to the one with ten talents. Equal worth does not necessarily mean equal compensation. Some positions require more skill or ability and thus are compensated accordingly. The two servants who did well are rewarded with different amounts. But they are both praised identically. The implication of the parable is that we are to use whatever talents we’ve been given to the best of our ability for God’s glory, and when we have done that, we are on an equal playing field with other faithful, trustworthy servants of God. The important thing to remember is that each servant was given something. No one was left idle. You may not be a five-talent person, but you have some talent. We all do. And you know something. I think that there are a whole lot more one and two talent people in this world than there are five talent people. Oh, there are some people who seem to have it all. I won’t deny that. But most of us are just one or two talent servants.
***
Another way of seeing this parable is that every hurdle we need to pass builds us up for the greater one. Repeatedly this parable tells us “You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things.” We start as the good person becoming the better, then the better person will soon become the best. The value of the reward. The parable of the talents warns us that our place and service in heaven will depend in the faithfulness of our lives and service here. A talent represents our abilities, time, resources and opportunities to serve God while on earth. These things are considered by God as a trust that we are responsible to administer in the wisest possible way. Whoever has been faithful in service for the Lord and has shared their burden here on earth will be richly rewarded in the future kingdom. They will be given even greater tasks in the new heaven and new earth (Revelation 21:1).
***
Profound lesson of values can also be gleaned from this parable story which are based in three areas: certainty, the boss knew his employees’ capabilities, hence the different measures of gold/talents. It was based on confidence; the boss knew he could rely on them. It’s a relationship based on trust; the boss knew his employees would not steal from them. Then there are several values that come from these areas such as the value of hard work. It is not a myth. There is great value in hard work. There is always the substantial return when you put honest hard work in the equation. The return may be in the form of tangible remuneration, gratification, skill improvement and experience.
Secondly, the value of the investment. Treasure what is given you to begin the task. The reality is you have been entrusted with something of great value. Cherish it. Carefully consider what you need to do with it. Take the time to build a plan to use this investment that will result in bountiful returns. Seek God and “Commit to the Lord whatever you do, and he will establish your plans.” (Proverbs 16:3), then execute.
Third is the value of your relationship with the taskmaster. Remember to value your relationship with God more than anything else. More than the task, more than the investment, and yes, even more than the returns. God considers your relationship with Him as the most important of all. It is why He sent His Son, His begotten treasure. Nothing is more important than your relationship with HIM. This is your greatest reward, your immeasurable eternal return.
Furthermore, there is the value of the task. Consider the lessons God has for you as you do the task. Never assume it is “just a task”. God is a purposeful God and every task He puts on you is given you for a specific reason. Every hurdle you need to pass builds you up for the greater one. Repeatedly in Matthew 25 the parable tells us “You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things.” You start as the good person becoming the better, then the better person will soon become the best.
And lastly, the value of the reward. As you commit to the Lord’s tasks and harvest, God will reward your due diligence. Cherish the day the Lord tells you “Well DONE! Come and share your master’s happiness!” Key words we’d all love to hear when we meet Him face to face.
Let us pray.
Blessed Lord, who caused all holy Scriptures to be written for our learning: Grant us so to hear them, read, mark, learn, and inwardly digest them, that we may embrace and ever hold fast the blessed hope of everlasting life, which you have given us in our Savior Jesus Christ; who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen (ECP-BCP Proper 28 Collect)
References/Sources: www.christianwealth.com; SermonsthatWork.com; sermons.com; www.theologyofwork.com; NIV Full Life Study Bible)**
