Matthew 25:14-30 NIV

[14] “Again, it will be like a man going on a journey, who called his servants and entrusted his wealth to them. [15] To one he gave five bags of gold, to another two bags, and to another one bag, each according to his ability. Then he went on his journey. [16] The man who had received five bags of gold went at once and put his money to work and gained five bags more. [17] So also, the one with two bags of gold gained two more. [18] But the man who had received one bag went off, dug a hole in the ground and hid his master’s money. [19] “After a long time the master of those servants returned and settled accounts with them. [20] The man who had received five bags of gold brought the other five. ‘Master,’ he said, ‘you entrusted me with five bags of gold. See, I have gained five more.’ [21] “His master replied, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master’s happiness!’ [22] “The man with two bags of gold also came. ‘Master,’ he said, ‘you entrusted me with two bags of gold; see, I have gained two more.’ [23] “His master replied, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master’s happiness!’ [24] “Then the man who had received one bag of gold came. ‘Master,’ he said, ‘I knew that you are a hard man, harvesting where you have not sown and gathering where you have not scattered seed. [25] So I was afraid and went out and hid your gold in the ground. See, here is what belongs to you.’ [26] “His master replied, ‘You wicked, lazy servant! So you knew that I harvest where I have not sown and gather where I have not scattered seed? [27] Well then, you should have put my money on deposit with the bankers, so that when I returned I would have received it back with interest. [28] “ ‘So take the bag of gold from him and give it to the one who has ten bags. [29] For whoever has will be given more, and they will have an abundance. Whoever does not have, even what they have will be taken from them. [30] And throw that worthless servant outside, into the darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.’

Dear God, I have to confess that I’ve never liked this story. I guess that, on the face of it, I do not like the master and I think the guy with one talent was treated unfairly. What if he didn’t have the ability or knowledge to double the talent? Yes, he could have simply banked it for some interest, but I still don’t think he deserved to be booted outside where there is weeping and gnashing of teeth.

Then there’s the master. He harvests where he has not sown and gathers sheer he has not planted seeds. What is that about? I just don’t like this at all.

But then I try to consider this within the context of a spiritual life. Applying the metaphor to my life, do I bury myself, take myself out of circulation and only worry about my own survival until your return, or do I invest myself in the lives of others? Do you only seek those who are your children, or do you harvest and gather among the gentiles too? Maybe this story isn’t so bad after all if I change the example of money to be lives instead.

Father, I don’t know how much you think you’ve given me, but I do want to be faithful with it. Help me to be what you need me to be for everyone my life touches so that I might bring you as much glory as possible.

In Jesus’ name I pray,

Amen