By Tyler Collins, March 4, 2024

If you grew up in or around the Christian faith, you have most likely heard the parable of the talents. If you have not, the summary of the parable is as follows: a master leaves and entrusts his property to a few servants. To one servant, he gives five talents, to another two, and to another one. When the master comes back from his journey, the man with five talents has multiplied his five to ten. The Master says, “well done, good and faithful servant.” He then goes to the servant, who was given two talents. This man had also multiplied his talents from two to four. The Master again says, “well done, good and faithful servant.” Both of these servants are invited into the joy of the Master. The Master then goes to the final servant with one talent, and that servant buried his talent because he was afraid. The Master then takes the talent and gives it to the one who has ten. The Master then says that those who have been faithful with what has been given will be given more. 

Often, when this parable is taught, the focus is on the talents themselves. Although I agree that we can learn much from this, I think the main emphasis of the passage is centered around the servant’s view of the Master. The reason that the one servant hid his talent is because he was afraid of the master. How we view Jesus directly leads to how we live with what He has entrusted to us. Our Master is one of abundance and longs for us to multiply the measure He gives. 

Here is a question to reflect on: what is your perspective of the Master, and how is this impacting how you are investing your life?