And the one also who had received the one talent came up and said, ‘Master, I knew you to be a hard man, reaping where you did not sow and gathering were you scattered no seed. And I was afraid, and went away and hid your talent in the ground. See, you have what is yours.’ “But his master answered and said to him. You wicked and lazy slave …….. (Matthew 25:24-26a, NASB)
Anyone who has ever been in church at least once in their life has probably heard the Parable of the Talents*. If not then the gist of it goes a little something like this. A rich man is about to embark on a long journey, but before he leaves he gives three of his servants each a different number of talents (large sum of money) according to their ability to handle it. He gives the first servant five talents, the second servant two talents and the third servant one talent. The first two servants get to work immediately without prompting and double the amount of talents their master entrusted to them. The last servant decides it’s probably better to not take any chances with his master money and adopts the shove it in a mattress philosophy.
In time the master returns and goes to his servants to get his money back and rewards and compliments the first two servants for doubling the money given to them. The third servant, well not so lucky. He gets a big fat bucket of rebuke and a boot in the rear as he gets thrown out into what the bible describes as outer darkness.
I remember when I first heard this parable I thought to myself what a jerk the master was. Sure the one servant didn’t earn him any interest on his money but come on.. outer darkness! Besides he got back all the money he gave him (which is way better than my track record when it comes to giving people money) and he never specifically told the servants he was expecting a return or how long he was going to be gone. What if the master had returned the next day, surely one day wouldn’t have been enough time to earn any interest. What if the third servant had invested his master’s money with the 1st century version of Bernie Madoff and lost it all, then the master would have gotten zero back. Under the circumstances digging a big hole and hiding his masters money sure sounds like a reasonable thing to do… doesn’t it?
In order to answer that question we first have to examine the key point below.
- Did the master have a legitimate reason for being so peeved at the servant and if so what was it?
Personally I don’t believe the master’s response and harsh treatment of his third servant’s inaction had anything to do with not gaining more money. The master was pretty wealthy to begin with after all. I believe the master was upset over two words…lost potential. Not only was the potential for use of any additional money earned lost but, the personal growth the servant would have experienced in taking the risk needed to grow the money was lost. In addition, to that the responsibility of being given more to manage and growing in a deeper level of trust and relationship with the master was also lost. You see the other two servants risked everything to maximize the potential their master had given them. The Bible says that once they had received their assignment they immediately went about putting their talents to work. It didn’t matter to them when the master was returning or why one servant was given more than another. They didn’t need the master to tell them to earn more with what they had been given because they knew his heart, understood his expectations and knew the role of a good servant.
Potential is a powerful thing. It represents all of the endless unknown possibilities that lay before us. But potential is like a seed in that it only represents what something could be if properly nurtured. The sin the third servant was guilty of was far worse than simply not being savvy with money. He committed a sin that every single day people all across the globe are guilty of, a sin I’m afraid I’m also guilty of. The sin of burying potential.
With the help of a friend three years ago I started this ministry (Free to Serve). It was the talent that God had entrusted to me. In just the first two years of starting the ministry we have been able to touch and minister to hundreds of people and change people’s financial lives for the better. Without question I know the idea of this ministry came directly from God. It’s one of the few things in my life that I’m absolutely sure about. However for the last year the ministry has been dormant and we have not taught a class, written an article nor have we done much of anything else to grow the ministry. For all intent and purposes we did just what the third servant did and buried our talent. We heaped mounds of dirt on the potential that God has entrusted to us.
Perhaps you can relate to what I’m saying. Maybe there’s a masterpiece on the inside of you that has never been painted, a writing ability you have neglected to develop, a business you have been talking about but never started. Honestly ask yourself whether or not you feel as though you have made every effort and taken every reasonable risk in order to maximize the gifts and talents God has given you. If not, then ask yourself why not. Just like the master in the parable God also expects for us to maximize the talents he has given us in his absence. He expects us to not be afraid of risk and challenges. He expects for us to know his heart and act accordingly. He expects to be given back more than he gave us.
In spite of what has held you back in the past, I have some good news. The master has not yet returned so there’s still time for you to dig up your buried talent and get to work.
I have spent a lot of time in reflection recently and I’m committed to doing whatever is necessary to breathe life back into this ministry. I refuse to allow my talent to remain buried as I long to hear God say to me “Well done good and faithful servant”. As I take steps to reinvigorate this ministry I ask that everyone that reads this article hold us accountable. I ask that you join me in this journey and in the coming days and weeks ahead stop by the website often, give us your feedback, share new blog posts with your friends on Facebook, and help us promote classes and events. I also ask that you take a hard look at the talents you have been given grab a shovel and start digging.
Whether you believe it or not the world needs your potential. It needs to admire the masterpiece you haven’t painted. It needs your book and that business you have yet to start and you know what it needs Free to Serve.
Now that you have heard my two cents what’s your take? Do you feel like you have buried your talent? If so why and what do you intend to do about it? Feel free to leave a comment below.
Article submitted by Efrem Jackson – Founder, Free to Serve Financial Ministries
*the Parable of the Talents can be found in Matthew 25: 14-30