en-TRUST-ed
I never fully grasped the parable of the talents Jesus told in Matthew 25. I never understood why he entrusted different amounts to different servants – that just didn’t seem “fair.” And the way he admonished the one who buried the one talent – I’m pretty sure I would have buried it as well, as investment theories and strategies were not covered while pursuing my music degree! But a closer look at this passage recently has deepened my trust in God as my heavenly parent.
Being the parent who gets to hear “your kid is talented, responsible and kind” is amazing. Being the parent who must hear “your kid bullied others, lied, stole, and skipped class” – not so much. I’ve been both (maybe God’s way of keeping me humble). I love every kid I have, no matter the report (and I’ve received good AND bad reports for each of them). I do my best to help them grow, as each child requires different responses, consequences, and strategies. These bundles of (challenging) joy don’t come in a one-size-fits-all package. They are uniquely different, with different needs, capacities, and abilities.
Having that parenting knowledge should help me trust my heavenly Father when he provides unique opportunities for growing and serving that don’t exactly match my neighbor’s. But I find myself continually struggling with what little or much he entrusts to me.
But in this parable, Jesus makes it clear that the master gives three different servants three uniquely different amounts of “talents.” The servants given the most invested and doubled their gifts, so the Master gave them more responsibility and the opportunity to share in his joy. But the servant entrusted with one talent buried it, fearing the Master’s shrewdness. The master not only shamed him, but took that one talent and removed him from his presence forever.
The first principle that challenged me was this: God gives to each person based on each one’s ability (verse 15). The resources, talents, strengths, time, and giftings to carry out God-given assignments are provided based on what he knows we are capable of investing for his kingdom at that time. There have been seasons in my life where I have wished I were able to do more for his Kingdom than it seemed I was doing or felt guilty if I wasn’t doing as much as someone else. Looking back, those were definitely “one talent” seasons, where one ministry was all my heart, body, and mind could handle at that moment. Oh, to have realized that he didn’t “withhold” out of discipline or spite, but out of love! Our Heavenly Father knows what each of his children can handle in each season of life. Whether I’m in a three-talent, two-talent, or one-talent season, do I trust the wisdom and faithful love of my heavenly Father? His gifts are GOOD, and FOR my good.
A second principle is equally challenging: I am required to make a return on his investment entrusted to me no matter how many talents he’s given. The one-talent servant in the story had just as much opportunity to invest in Kingdom work, but he refused to take the risk. He let fear reign instead. And Jesus called him lazy! Ouch! Wandering out of the safe zone isn’t just for those who’ve been given a lot – it’s for everyone who has received grace and knows the truth. We are called to make disciples AS WE ARE GOING. Going about our day, with the people, time, resources, and truth he has entrusted to us.
I don’t have a platform where I’m writing best-sellers and communicating with thousands daily – but each day I can speak truth to my four kids, support and nurture my husband, share life with students in our church’s youth group, pray for ministry leaders, encourage those I encounter, and share Jesus’ love with friends who don’t yet know him. I’m no math genius, but multiplication is multiplication. And when I am faithful with one talent, God is faithful to double the outcome – and do immeasurably more than I can ask or imagine!
Let this be our challenge: How can we invest whatever God has entrusted to us in this season of our lives?
