The parable of the talents is often misunderstood. Some people are convinced that talents are a skill such as singing or playing a musical instrument. If God provides a talent then it should be used for His glory. That makes sense but talents in the parable of the talents is a measurement of money.
The parable of the talents, found in Matthew 25:14-30, is a lesson about faithful stewardship. Jesus tells a story about three money managers. A master left each in charge of a specific amount of money with the expectation they would increase his funds. Two servants doubled their master’s money and heard “well done” from their master. The third servant hid the money out of fear. The master referred to him as a wicked, lazy, and unprofitable servant.
God expects us to faithfully use His resources to fund gospel work. Fearful servants will fail at increasing resources. Faithful servants have the potential to fund Kingdom work.
The Parable of the Talents is located in Matthew 25:14-30. Here are X observations from this parable
#1 Each According To His Ability
Matthew 25:15 To one he gave five talents, to another two, to another one, to each according to his ability. Then he went away.
The master in this servant had a high level of trust in each of his servants. If these talents are gold and not silver the value for each is in the millions of dollars.
The average American will have at least $1,000,000 come in and out of their bank account over their lifetime. How will we do when Jesus judges our stewardship of His resources?
My hope is to hear, “Well done!” from my Master.
#2 Double For Your Trouble — The Rule of 72
Matthew 25:16 He who had received the five talents went at once and traded with them, and he made five talents more.
Doubling resources or salaries is not easy but it is possible. I wrote an article, using real-life examples, on how salaries can be doubled. I’ve used these methods on a few occasions. They work!
Two of the three servants doubled their master’s money. It doesn’t explicitly state that doubling was the ultimate goal. Doubling was rewarded, however.
There’s a simplistic formula called the Rule of 72 to help calculate the doubling of investments. Estimates are only as good as the input variables. None of us can forecast the future with precision. We can only use historical data.
Since 1950, the S&P 500 has averaged 11.12% per year (officialdata.org).
72/11.12 = 6.47 Years. An investment with an 11.12% return will double, on average in six and half years.
What if we don’t know the potential return but know our time frame?
Imagine that need our investment to double in eight years. How large of a return is required?
72/9 = 8%
An eight percent return is possible without taking on super-risky investments.
The third servant could have doubled his master’s money. Fear hindered him.
Matthew 25:18 But he who had received the one talent went and dug in the ground and hid his master’s money.
#3 There Will Be A Reckoning
Matthew 25:19 Now after a long time the master of those servants came and settled accounts with them.
We all will give an account for things done in the body (2 Corinthians 5:10). Have we proved financially faithful?
How long we have before judgment is unknown. It’s best for us all to keep our lamps trimmed and filled with oil.
The first two servants heard “Well done!” by simply doubling the master’s resources. We don’t know how long the master was gone on his journey.
I am supposing that he was gone for a very long time — possibly decades. He intimated that the banker’s interest would have been adequate for his investment.
If Jesus audited your financial stewardship today, what would you hear?
#4 Lord, Teach Us To Profit
Isaiah 48:17 (ESV) Thus says the Lord, your Redeemer, the Holy One of Israel: “I am the Lord your God, who teaches you to profit, who leads you in the way you should go.
All three of the servants had adequate power to complete the expected task of doubling their master’s resources. Additionally, the master would have taught them how to complete the required task.
Having the authority to generate wealth is one thing (Deuteronomy 8:18). Knowing how is an entirely separate issue.
One cannot give what one does not have. Christians must begin generating additional sources of income and multiplying their wealth.
We have schools to build and churches to plant. The days of churches only paying salaries and mortgages must come to an end, quickly.
#5 God Is A Rewarder
Matthew 25;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.’
Amazingly, the master provided the initial investment of five talents, two talents, and one talent. Our master has given us the power to generate wealth and promises to teach us to profit.
When we leverage His gifts and power He rewards us with more and more. We are getting the better end of the deal.
#6 God Judges With Righteous Judgment
Matthew 25:24-25 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, so I was afraid, and I went and hid your talent in the ground. Here, you have what is yours.’
The master was confident in all of his servants — even this one. His ability to generate wealth was not as strong as the other two but he still could have doubled the one talent given to him.
God expects His servants to generate wealth. He has given us seed for sowing and bread for eating. He promises to supply and multiply our seed sown and to increase our harvest of righteousness (2 Corinthians 9:10).
Financial failure is judged accordingly.
Servant number three had an incorrect view of his master. He believed that he was a hard and austere man, He was wrong in his perception.
Christians at times also have an incorrect view of God. Those who have bought into asceticism (Colossians 2:18,23) will be judged for their ignorance. Those who have bought into the lies of the prosperity gospel will also face severe judgment.
Lies of the Prosperity Gospel
Here is an article that I wrote titled, Eleven Lies of the Prosperity Gospel for your edification.
The third servant received a severe judgment from his master.
Matthew 25:26 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?
I don’t want to be called wicked and slothful. How about you?
Matthew 25:28 So take the talent from him and give it to him who has the ten talents.
The master in the parable is not a socialist.
Matthew 25:30 And cast the worthless servant into the outer darkness. In that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.
The final judgment is the most severe.
#7 The Point of the Parable
Money management is challenging. Managing money is like working on a car while it’s still running.
God, however, empowers us, teaches us, and gives us adequate grace to properly manage His money.
The resources in our possession, whether thick or thin, must be multiplied.
Obtaining the proper view of God is essential. Working with His grace is vital.
The Church has a large job ahead of itself and it will be costly. We must change our view on increasing wealth if we’re ever going to turn this world upside down (Acts 17:6).
I dare you to profit!
Timothy Kiser is the author of The Profit Dare and Floating Axes & No Taxes. He’s a former youth pastor, short-term missionary, and church planter.